,,*apt} ,,ei<t
     ,,trapp$
     ,,nov4 #aici

,he t is sl{ 6ang} is bett} ?an ! mi<ty2 & he t rule? 8 _s ?an he t take? a c;y4
--,prov}bs #af#cb

  ,! next morn+ :5 ,rudi >riv$ at ,salek's1 ! e>ly morn+ fro/ / l+}$ on ! w9d{s4 ,he press$ 8 h& ag/ ! glass1 &! cry/als melt$ j 2n 8 t|*4 ,see+ t ,mrs4 ,s}dusek 0 alr 9 ! kit*5 & ,salek 0 alr "ufoot1 he knock$4
  ,af br1kfa/ ! boys retr1t$ 6,salek's room 64cuss f9al prep>,ns = _! adv5ture4 ,"o 3c}n 0 h{ 6c>ry ! equip;t4 ,rudi didn't want 6be burd5$ d{n2 he want$ 6be z free z possi# = crawl+1 climb+--or runn+4 ,af "s 4cus.n1 !y decid$ t x wd 2 be/ 6deta* ! grappl+ iron f ! rope4 ,rudi cd take c>e (! rope 0w9d+ x ag & ag >.d 8 wai/4 ,salek cd take c>e (! iron 0hook+ x 6his belt & hid+ x "u 8 h1vy w9t} coat4 ,once !y _h decid$ h{ 6h&le ! equip;t1 !y review$ _! map & 5tr.e plans4 ,0#b3cj t afn !y 7 on _! way4 ,"ey?+ 0 go+ ac 6plan until !y pass$ ! halfway m>k & ,rudi su45ly su7e/$1 8,"h1 ,salek1 let's cut "? ? build+40
  ,salek %ook 8 h1d4 8,let's /ick 6! map40
  8,aw1 -e on10 ,rudi urg$4 8,i'm sure ! place is des}t$4 ,2ss1 if we d1 we'll 2 skipp+ a /reet & buy+ a bit m "t40
  8,all "r40 ,reluctantly ,salek foll{$ ,rudi 96! build+4
  ,rudi 0 reliev$ 6f9d t he _h be5 "r--! build+ 0 des}t$4 ,he soon 4cov}$1 h{"e1 t 8 idea 0 def9itely n ! way 6save "t1 = z soon z !y /epp$ |tside1 he saw two gu>ds l|ng+ at ! 5d (! alley--look+ "r t{>d !m4
  8,oh1 no60 sd ,salek 9 a ho>se :isp}4 ,he _h b>ely gott5 ! ~ws | 2f "o (! gu>ds yell$1 8,hey1 y "!60
  8,get go+60 cri$ ,rudi z he %ov$ ,salek back 9side ! build+4
  ,! %rill s.d ( police :i/les />t$ z he & ,salek da%$ | 96"o alley & d{n ano!r4 ,rudi gave ll he$ 6_! direc;n4 ,he want$ only 6put 4t.e 2t hm & ,salek & _! pursu}s4 ,he 0 2g9n+ 6?9k he _h su3e$$--!n !y r.d$ ! corn}4 ,9 an 9/ant a "y ,g}man soldi} r1*$ & coll>$ ,salek4
  ,rudi turn$ on hm 9 a fury1 8,let hm g6 ,let hm g1 ,i say60
  ,at t mo;t "s"o gra2$ hm f 2h1 pull$ hm back1 & %ook hm4 8,/op x6 ,/op x1 boy40
  ,rudi look$ up4 ,8 captor 0 a ,pole1 a village f>m}4
  ,! man pu%$ hm--n r|<ly1 b firmly--,back ag/ ! c>t t 0 block+ ! alley4 ,! c>t fill$ ) g>bage4 ,rudi knew t s"eal (! villag}s _h be5 =c$ 6use _! c>ts = 8cl1nup10 & he _h se5 !m pick+ up rub# 9 ! /reets & g>bage f ! relief kit*5s4 ,! soldi} m/ h /opp$ ! man 6see if he 0 do+ 8 job well4 ,rudi calm$ d{n a bit4 ,ev5 s1 ! f>m} did n rel1se 8 hold4 ,9/1d1 he turn$ t{>d ! "y ,g}man1 8,well80 he sd4
  ,! soldi} look$ at ,rudi & !n at ,salek4 ,! s.d (a police :i/le />t$ up ag4 ,! soldi} li/5$1 !n /udi$ ,salek c>e;lly4 8,put !m 9 "!10 he f9,y sd & po9t$ t{>d ! c>t4
  8,no60 prote/$ ,rudi4
  8,%ut up1 boy10 sd ! f>m} %>ply4 ,!n he :isp}$1 8,c't y see he's try+ 6save yr hide8 ,n{ get 9 "! & bury yrf40
  ,rudi look$ at ,salek1 & !n bo? ( !m l1p$ 96! c>t & burr{$ d{n 2n ! c9d}s1 dirt1 & g>bage4 ,! c>t j}k$ =w>d1 &! welcome s.d ( horses' ho(s on ! /"o /reet block$ | ! noise ( _! pursu}s4 ,!y 7 free--at l1/ =! mo;t4
  ,!y m/ h travel$ ab fifte5 m9utes 2f ! c>t came 6a /op4 8,y c get | "h10 ! f>m} call$ back4
  8,if ,i 7 y10 ! man 3t9u$ z ! boys climb$ |1 8,i'd get home z fa/ z ,i cd & /ay "!40 ,) ? f9al admoni;n1 he spurr$ 8 horses on4
  8,yuk60 ,salek exclaim$ z soon z ! f>m} 0 | ( si<t4
  8,t's = sure10 ,rudi agre$1 look+ d{n at hmf4 8,at l1/ we c't he> ~? :i/les anymore10 he sd4 8,we're safe n{40
  8,no ?anks 6y10 ,salek grum#d z he pick$ a slimy piece ( potato peel+ | ( 8 hair4 8,": 9 ! _w >e we anyway80
  8,n ": we want 6be10 ,rudi sd4 8,-e on1 we ne$ 6g ? way40
  ,salek /opp$ hm4 8,:oa6 ,": is ,8? way'80'0
  8,to ! a"p;t1 ( c|rse4 ,-e on1 we've wa/$ 5 "t40
  8,t's "r10 sd ,salek4 8,too m*6 ,"!'s n 5 ( x left40
  8,yes "! is--if we hurry4 ,anyway1 d y want 6g "? ? ag tm80 ask$ ,rudi4
  8,y "k1 ,rudi10 sd ,salek1 %ak+ 8 h1d 8,i re,y hope ! ,nazis don't kill y4 ,y "k :y8 ,'caus :5 we f9,y get home1 ,i'd l 6d x40
  ,! boys cr|*$ 2h a coal b9 ! alley look$ up at ! t}race w9d{4 8,all "r--h& t iron piece10 sd ,rudi4
  ,salek r1*$ 9side 8 coat & pull$ x |4 8,i / c't 2lieve t ,nazi let u g--especi,y me10 he sd1 h&+ ov} ! grappl+ iron4 8,i cd tell 0! way he 0 />+ holes 9 me t he knew ,i 0 a ,jew all "r40
  8,i'm sure he _h 8 r1sons10 ,rudi sd sull5ly1 z he 3t9u$ unw9d+ ! rope f 8 wai/4 ,he 0 n 9 ! mood 6give a ,g}man cr$it = do+ any?+ gd4 ,he cd ?9k ( no?+ n{ b 8 ang} t{>d !m4
  8,/10 ,salek sd1 8,i hope ! "os t live up "! >e l he was40
  ,rudi made no reply2 he 0 3c5trat+ on secur+ ! iron 6! rope4 
  8,rudi10 sd ,salek1 8c y tell me n{ :y y're go+ 9 "!80
  8,hope;lly1 y'll "k 9 j a few m9utes10 sd ,rudi1 & he 2gan 6move |4
  ,salek seem$ unwill+ 6let hm g4 8,don't y want 6take a m9ute or two m 6cat* yr br1?80
  8,l y sd1 "!'s no "t10 ,rudi sd4 ,& sl{ly1 v sl{ly1 he mov$ f 2h ! b9 & /ood 2n ! w9d{4
  ,he twi/$ "o 5d (! rope loosely >.d 8 "r h& & let ! hook$ 5d dangle f 8 left4 ,!n tak+ a deep br1?1 he 2gan ! /1dy circul> mo;n4 ,"o1 two1 ?ree1 he c.t$ 6hmf1 !n let ! iron piece fly 96! air4 ,he hit 8 m>k & b>ely made a s.d4
  ,he l1n$ back & tu7$ on ! rope 6be c}ta9 x cd be> 8 wei<t4 ,!n he look$ once m at ,salek 2f />t+ up4 ,:5 he 0 alm 6! top1 he he>d a soldi} %|t 9 ! /reet4 ,! s.d s j>r$ hm t he ne>ly lo/ 8 grip4 ,b he rega9$ hmf1 &)a su45 bur/ ( 5}gy he pull$ hmf up & grasp$ a rail+ %aft4 ,!n tu7+ ) all 8 mi<t1 he su3e$$ 9 sw++ 8 body ov} ! rail+ & onto ! n>r{ t}race l&+4 ,qkly he pull$ ! rope up & climb$ 9side4
  ,he /ood ag 9 8 "f's room & scann$ ! sc5e4 ,! ,g}mans _h ransack$ "ey?+1 & _h d"o no?+ 63c1l _! %ame;l acts4 ,! door (! w>drobe 0 aj>1 & s"eal pieces ( 8 "f's clo?+ lay ~u ! floor4 ,8 "f's p}sonal l$g}s & notebooks al lay op5 on 8 desk1 & pap}s 7 /r{n "ey":4
  ,he cross$ 6! desk4 ,!y bett} n h t|*$ my ,"m' lrs1 he sd 6hmf z he dropp$ ! rope 9 ! corn}1 op5$ ! c5t} desk draw}1 & r1*$ back z f> z he cd4 ,relief swept ov} hm z 8 f+}s t|*$ a small l1!r p|*4 ,! p|* 9 : 8 "f _h plac$ ! two rema9+ bir?"d lrs ,rudi _h yet 6rcv f 8 "m4 
  ,he drew ! p|* |1 op5$ x4 ,x 0 empty4
  ,?r{+ x aside1 he rummag$ "? ! desk draw}s1 swept ! pap}s f ! desk top1 & crawl$ ab ! floor se>*+ =! lrs4 ,he f.d no?+4 ,a hot rage fill$ 8 he>t & gave v5t 6angry te>s4 ,he felt z if he m/ ?r{ or br1k "s?+4 ,he turn$ 6look = an object t mi<t suit 8 purpose--!n /opp$4 ,he he>d ,salek's w>n+ :i/le4 ,b x 0 too late1 = j !n he al he>d a door key turn 9side ! lock4 ,he dropp$ 6his knees & slid "u ! b$4
  ,8 he>t 0 p.d+ wildly & s.d$ 9 8 e>s l ! b1t+ (a ?|s& drums4 ,! door op5$1 & he he>d "s"o h1d+ t{>d 8 "f's room4 ,! foot/eps /opp$ j 9side ! room4 ,f "u ! b$1 ,rudi cd see ! poli%$ black boots (a ,g}man soldi}4 ,he did n "k if ! soldi} _h he>d hm2 he pray$ t he _h n4
  ,! ,g}man mov$ sl{ly 6! c5t} (! room--too sl{ly1 ,rudi ?"|4 ,he !n turn$ & walk$ ov} 6! desk4 ,rudi cd he> hm ru/l+ "? ! pap}s4 ,! rope--,o ,"l1 pl1se don't let hm see ! rope6 he pray$4
  ,! soldi} left ! desk & w5t 6! w>drobe4 ,rudi he>d x op5 & !n li/5$ z ! soldi} rummag$ "? x4 ,/1 he cd n see if ! man 0 putt+ "s?+ away--or look+ = "s?+4 ,at l5g? ! man clos$ ! w>drobe & came t{>d ! b$4 ,he /opp$ j at ! foot4 ,rudi cd h r1*$ | & t|*$ ! ,g}man's boot4
  ,j !n ! a"p;t door op5$ once ag4 8,franke8 ,y "h1 ,franke80 a husky voice call$ |4
  8,9 "h1 ,m5de10 ! soldi} 9 ! b$room answ}$4 ,rudi he>d ! second soldi} 5t} ! room4 8,:at d we h 6eat80 he dem&$4
  8,y've left u v ll1 ,i fe>10 repli$ ! man "nd ,franke4
  8,!n ,i w h 6g & 3v9ce ! groc} 6give me m10 he he>d ,m5de say4 8,wd y l 6jo9 me8 ,af gett+ "s?+ 6eat1 ,i mi<t look >.d = "s 5t}ta9;t40
  8,no-,i ?9k ,i'll pass4 ,i'd l 6re/40
  8,suit yrf10 sd ,m5de z he turn$ 6l1ve4 ,!n z an af?"| he a4$1 8,by ! way1 :y 9 ! _w d y h ! w9d{ op580
  ,rudi ne>ly gasp$4 8,w9d{80 sd ,franke4 8,i don't "k1 ,i--0 he /opp$4 8,i guess ,i j =got ab x10 he sd1 & he walk$ ov} 6! w9d{ & %ut x4
  8,y mi<t d well 6rememb} s* ?+s--"picul>ly at ni<t10 sd ,m5de4 8,"s ( u >e n exactly popul> 9 ? c;y40 ,& he lau<$4
  8,yes1 ,i've notic$ t10 sd ,franke quietly4 ,m5de turn$ & left ! room4 ,rudi li/5$ & he>d ! |tside door slam4 ,z soon z ,m5de 0 g"o1 ,franke s1t$ hmf on ! b$ & 2gan remov+ 8 boots4 ,he m/ n "k t ,i am "h1 ?"| ,rudi1 try+ 6calm hmf4 ,b he felt a bit saf} once ,franke _h /ret*$ hmf | on ! b$4 
  ,8 feel+ ( relief1 h{"e1 did n la/ l;g1 = x seem$ z if su45ly a ?|s& ?"|s ru%$ 96his m9d4 ,h{ c ,i escape8 ,i cd n"e make x 6! w9d{4 ,& :at is ,salek do+8 ,surely he wd risk -+ 9 "h af me4 
  ,an uncontrolla# fe> 2gan 6ov}take hm4 ,he cd /& ! /ra9 ( hid+ no l;g}4 ,he _h 6get |4
  ,he wd run2 yes1 t 0 x4 ,no--x 0 impossi#4 ,once he drew _! att5;n1 he knew he cd n"e run fa/ 5|<4 ,!y wd cat* hm1 & !n--he m/ 3trol 8 fe>4
  ,z he wre/l$ ) ~! ?"|s1 ! w9try dusk turn$ 96frigid d>k;s4 ,=a l;g "t1 he lay %iv}+ "u ! b$1 li/5+ 6! soldi}'s br1?+4 ,ev5tu,y x settl$ 96a deep1 /1dy rhy?m4 ,x's n{ or n"e1 ,rudi ?"|4 ,& he =c$ hmf 6/ret* | f "u ! b$ & feel ! floor4 ,"! seem$ 6be no?+ 9 ! way4
  ,god1 help me1 he pray$ z cauti|sly1 v cauti|sly he 2gan 6slide | f 8 hid+ place4 ,at la/ he lay 2s ! b$1 tak+ -=t 9 ! d>k;s t cov}$ hm4 ,he cd n ev5 see 8 h& 2f 8 face1 s he 0  sure t no "o else cd see any?+1 ei4
  ,c>e;lly1 he rose 6a crawl+ posi;n4 ,!n feel+ ! way 2f hm1 he proce$$ 6! door4 ,he 3t9u$ crawl+ ev5 :5 he r1*$ ! |t} room1 = he d>$ n /& up"r4 ,he d>$ n tempt hmf 6br1k 96a run4 ,n until he t|*$ ! door did he /& up4
  ,g5tly he turn$ ! lat* & /epp$ | 96! dimly li<t$ hall1 s(tly clos+ ! door 2h hm4 ,he mov$ 6! /airs & /ood a few mo;ts cl++ 6! rail+4 ,all ! t5.n _h dra9$ | ( hm1 & he felt z if he mi<t fa9t4 ,x 0 !n he he>d a cr1k+ on ! /airs4 ,x /opp$4 ,x's j my imag9,n1 he ?"|4 ,b !n x came ag4 ,"s"o 0 def9itely -+1 & he 0 try+ n 6be he>d4
  ,he mov$ back 96a corn} & press$ hmf ag/ ! wall4 ,! /rang} 0 -+ up ! la/ fli<t ( /airs4 ,z he r1*$ ! l&+ & turn$1 ,rudi saw 8 face4 ,x 0 8 "f4
  ,rudi's "f sd no?+ all ! way home4 ,b z soon z !y _h r1*$ _! room & clos$ ! door 2h !m1 he turn$ on ,rudi4 8,:at 9 ! _w 7 y ?9k+60
  8,papa1 ,i _h 6g back--0
  8,no1 ,rudi10 8 "f cut hm (f4 8,y did n h 6g back40
  8,!y took |r ?+s60 cri$ ,rudi4
  8,t app>5tly is n all !y took f y10 8 "f sd4 8,!y took yr gd s5se away z well4 ,& if ,salek _h n -e 6me1 :o "ks :at wd h happ5$60
  8,papa1 y don't "u/&10 ,rudi prote/$4
  8,i "u/& t y >e angry4 ,i'm angry too1 ,rudi4 ,b t does n ju/ify yr risk+ n only yr {n life b ! life ( yr be/ fr z well 6g back "!60
  8,i didn't ask ,salek 6g4 ,he want$ 6g40
  8,he did x | ( love = y1 : "| 6make y all ! m a%am$6 ,rudi1 "! is no excuse = :at y h d"o40
  8,papa1 y don't "u/&40
  8,i "u/&--z y %d--! value ( human life4 ,p1 p >e important1 ,rudi--n ?+s40
  8,b x wasn't j ?+s4 ,i w5t back = mama's lrs4 ,x's h}1 papa1 ~? lrs 7 all ,i _h1 & ,i--oh1 nobody "u/&s--n ev5 y40
  8,rudi40 ,8 "f walk$ ov} & r1*$ 9side 8 doctor's bag4 8,i wd ?9k1 "k+ me z y d1 t y cd h tru/$ me a ll m10 he sd1 & he pull$ a packet ( lrs f ! bag4 8,i "u/&1 son4 ,i _h !m all al;g40