,,*apt} ,,twelve
     ,,! ,,ho/ages
     ,,nov4 #aici

,?us sai? ! ,"l1 ,let n ! wise man glory 9 8 wisdom1 nei let ! mi<ty man glory 9 8 mi<t1 ,b let hm t glorie? glory 9 ?1 t he "u/&e? & "ke? me1 t ,i am ! ,"l : ex}cise lov+ k9d;s1 judg;t1 & "re|s;s1 9 ! e>?3 = 9 ~! ?+s ,i deli<t1 sai? ! ,"l4
--,j}emiah #i#bc;a-#bd

  ,rudi 0 />tl$ f 8 ?"|s :5 ,salek bur/ 96! room4
  8,rudi6 ,!y've tak5 papa60
  ,rudi felt a wave ( fe> -e ov} hm4 8,:at >e y talk+ ab80
  8,j hurry--get yr "f60 ,salek %|t$4 8,we've got 6get 6! ,c|ncil build+ 2f ! soldi}s take hm away60
  ,rudi ru%$ f ! room ) ,salek "r 2h hm4 ,9 mo;ts !y f.d ,dr4 ,kaplan4
  8,! ,g}mans h ,mr4 ,s}dusek60 ,rudi %|t$4
  8,":80
  8,!y're hold+ hm ) ab tw5ty o!r m5 at ! ,c|ncil ,(fice10 sd ,salek4 8,pl1se1 hurry6 ,!y alr h a truck wait+ 6take !m40
  ,rudi's "f qkly l$ ! boys | 96! /reet4 8,":'s yr "m80 he ask$ ,salek4
  8,%e's alr "!10 ,salek told hm4
  8,:y 0 yr "f at ! ,c|ncil build+ td80 ,rudi ask$ z he & ,salek ran al;g tgr 9 an ef=t 6keep up ) ,dr4 ,kaplan's pace4 8,he isn't usu,y "! on ! ,sa2a?40
  8,"o (! ,c|ncil memb}s /opp$ 0! h|se & told hm he _h 6-e10 ,salek told hm4
  8,:o80 ,rudi's "f ask$4
  8,i don't "k4 ,i 0 up/airs :5 he came10 sd ,salek4 8,i j "k t x 0 "s"o :o "w$ ) papa4 ,b x 0 a woman :o came & told u t he 0 9 tr|#40
  ,:5 !y >riv$1 ,rudi cd see t ,,ss (fic}s 7 block+ ! 5tr.e (! build+1 :ile a cr{d ( wom5 on ! /eps clamor$ =! rel1se ( _! husb&s4 ,a few ,poles _h /opp$1 b only 6wat*4 ,!y made no ef=t 6see :e!r !y mi<t 2 ( help4
  ,rudi wat*$ ! soldi}s pu% ! wom5 back f ! door ) _! h1vy /icks & rifle butts4 8,x doesn't look too gd1 papa10 he :isp}$ z he lift$ 8 h& 6his face & felt ! ga% 2n 8 eye4
  ,8 "f made no -;t on ,rudi's obs}v,n b turn$ 6,salek & simply sd1 8,i'm go+ 6try 6f9d yr "m1 ,salek40 ,!n turn+ 6,rudi he told hm1 8,:at"e y d1 make sure y don't get sep>at$ f me40
  ,rudi gra2$ onto 8 "f's jacket :ile ,salek clut*$ ,rudi's coat4 ,b ev5 ) ? precau;n1 ,rudi f.d t x 0 di6icult 6/ay close 6his "f :ile mov+ "? ! frantic cr{d4
  8,"! %e is10 he at la/ he>d 8 "f say4 ,rudi refus$ 6rel1se 8 hold on 8 "f's coat ev5 af !y _h /opp$4
  8,s>a--:at's go+ on80 ,rudi's "f ask$4
  8,oh1 ,jakob1 d "s?+60 ,mrs4 ,s}dusek pl1d$4
  8,i w1 b f/ tell me :at has happ5$40
  8,all ,i "k is t e>ly ? afn "o (! m5 f ! ,c|ncil came 6! h|se4 ,he sd t ! ,ge/apo _h call$ a special meet+ & t !y 9si/$ ,}yk -e "h immly4 ,! next ?+ ,i knew1 a woman 0 p.d+ on ! door40
  8,%e told u t ! ,g}mans mi<t kill ! ,c|ncil memb}s60 ,salek broke in4
  8,%e sd !y 7 ?r1t5+ mass execu;n 2c ! ,jewi% l1d}s _h fail$ 6c>ry | ! ,nazis' ord}s10 ,salek's "m 3t9u$4 8,i s5t ,salek af y 2c ,i didn't "k :at else 6d1 & ,i--0
  ,j !n ,rudi spott$ "s"o -+ | (! build+4 8,look1 !y're lett+ "s"o |60
  8,i ?9k x's ! same man :o came 6! h|se10 a4$ ,mrs4 ,s}dusek4
  ,! man 0 immly 5circl$ 0wom5 & *n & bomb>d$ ) "qs4
  8,:at's he say+1 papa80 ask$ ,rudi4
  8,i don't "k10 8 "f sd4 8,let's move clos}4 ,i want 6he>40
  8,>e !y lett+ anybody else |1 mama80 9quir$ ,salek4
  8,n t ,i c see10 %e sd z %e foll{$ ,dr4 ,kaplan's l1d4 ,0! "t !y 7 close 5 6he>1 ! cr{d _h quiet$ & 0 anxi|sly li/5+ 6! "o man :o _h be5 fre$4
  8,i don't "k :at !y 9t5d 6d )! ho/ages10 ,rudi he>d ! man say4 8,!y've n made t cle>40
  8,": is my "f8 ,": is ,mr4 ,s}dusek80 9t}rupt$ ,salek4
  8,yr "f's / 9side1 son4 ,b he's f9e1 ,i assure y1 he's f9e40
  8,= h{ l;g1 sir80 ask$ ,salek's "m4
  8,i hope !y w rel1se !m soon1 ,mrs4 ,s}dusek10 ! man repli$4
  8,if !y plan 6rel1se !m1 :y is t truck wait+ "h80 ask$ ano!r woman4
  8,x cd 2 j 6f"r5 y10 ! man answ}$4
  8,:y'd !y let y -e |80 ask$ ,rudi4
  8,i imag9e !y want$ me 6d :at ,i am try+ 6d "r n{--to let y "k :y !y're hold+ ! ,c|ncil memb}s ho/age40
  8,!y >e hold+ !m 2c y 7 /upid 5 6-e 6|r homes ? afn & 9si/ t ! ,c|ncil meet60 a woman %|t$4
  ,rudi turn$ t{>d h}4 ,he _h n"e se5 s* fury 9 a woman1 & h} ang} seem$ 6sp>k ! same feel+s 9 _m (! o!rs4
  8,:y 9 ! _w did y tell !m 6-e "h80 ano!r sd4
  8,surely y knew "s?+ l ? wd happ510 sd / ano!r4
  8,no1 h"o/ly--0 ! man tri$ 6expla91 b 8 voice 0 lo/ 9 ! ris+ tumult4
  8,quiet60 %|t$ ,dr4 ,kaplan4 8,we c't decide :at %d 2 d"o until we "k :at's happ5$4 ,li/5 6hm4 ,maybe !n we c see |r way cle> 6get !m fre$4
  ,! cr{d quiet$1 & ,dr4 ,kaplan turn$ once ag 6! man4 8,g on10 he sd4
  8,i f9,y r.d$ "ey"o up by #d3jj4 ,h"o/ly1 ,i _h no idea ( :at !y want$4 ,!y simply told me t e ,c|ncil memb} m/ 2 pres5t4 ,ev5 af we'd assem#d "! 0 no clue4 ,!y gave no 9/ruc;ns4 ,we sat "! = at l1/ an h|r wait+40
  8,! fact t ! ,nazis _h call$ ,jews 6a meet+ %d h be5 "s clue40 ,x 0 ! same woman :o _h f/ %|t$ at ! man4
  8,:at wd y h d"o80 he yell$ back at h}4 8,!y told me t if ,i cd n get ! m5 6meet1 !y wd hunt !m d{n & kill !m 9 _! homes4 ,is t :at y wd h want$80
  ,! woman made no reply1 b ,rudi cd see t h} fury seem$ 6cool "s:at4 ,! man calm$ hmf & once ag 3t9u$4
  8,ab #e3jj s"eal ,ge/apo (fic}s bur/ 96! room )|t w>n+ & lock$ ! door 2h !m4 ,we all jump$ up1 b 2f we knew :at 0 happ5+ !y'd 5circl$ u4 ,!y 7 c>ry+ rifles1 :ips1 & pi/ols4 ,= s"eal m9utes no "o sd a ~w4 ,we all j /ood "! look+ at !m :ile !y />$ back at u4 ,f9,y1 "o ( !m--a man "nd ,m5de--spoke40
  ,! v m5;n ( ,m5de's "n made ,rudi's /oma* turn4
  8,he a4ress$ u z if we 7 -mon crim9als10 ! man 3t9u$1 8say+ t f n{ on we 7 6c>ry | ! ,fuhr}'s wi%es4 ,he sd t ! fate ( all ! ,jews 0 9 |r h&s & t if we did n coop}ate1 8 m5 wd see 6x t all ! ,jews 9 ,w>saw 7 murd}$40
  ,rudi look$ at 8 fr /&+ 2s hm & rememb}$ all t ,salek _h sd ab ,g}mans %oot+ ,jews4 ,b x seem$ t ,salek n{ 2liev$ s* a ?+ cd n"e re,y happ5--especi,y 6his "f4 ,!y mi<t take 8 "f away--: wd 2 bad 5|<--b !y wd n"e %oot hm4 ,rudi rememb}$ ,m5de & did n d|bt t !y wd4 ,) deli<t4 ,rudi grasp$ 8 "f's coat m ti<tly4
  8,:at exactly >e ~! ord}s t !y refus$ 6c>ry |80 ,dr4 ,kaplan ask$4
  8,!y want$ u 6dem& t all ! ,jews move 96"o re/rict$ >ea--a <etto >ea t wd 2 wall$ in4
  8,t doesn't s.d l s* a bad idea 6me10 sd ,rudi1 = he want$ no?+ m ?an a wall 2t hmf & ,m5de4
  8,! boy's "r10 "o woman second$4 8,at l1/ we wd 2 kept away f ! ,g}mans40
  8,t's ": y're wr;g10 ! man sd4 8,f/ ( all1 ! >ea is s small t we cd n all possibly live "!4 ,secondly1 d y re,y ?9k !y wd l1ve u al"o af !y'd imprison$ u8 ,tell !m10 ! man pl1d$1 turn+ 6,dr4 ,kaplan = support4
  8,he's "r10 ,rudi he>d 8 "f say4 8,x wd m1n t !y wd h u exactly ": !y want u40
  8,& t m1ns10 ! man a4$1 8t any "t !y want 6de/roy u1 !y cd d x qkly & e6ici5tly40
  8,s ! ,c|ncil's refusal 6c>ry | t ord} 0 :at br"| on ! ?r1t5$ execu;n80 ask$ ,dr4 ,kaplan4
  8,yes--0 ,rudi 0 s 9t5t on li/5+ 6! 3v}s,n t he fail$ 6notice t ,salek _h left 8 side until he turn$ 6sp1k 6hm4
  8,papa10 ,rudi 9t}rupt$1 8":'s ,salek80 ,b 2f he _h ev5 f9i%$ ! "q1 he spott$ 8 fr4 8,look1 papa6 ,salek's try+ 6get 9 "!60
  ,! man f ! ,c|ncil /opp$4 8,salek60 ,mrs4 ,s}dusek cri$4 8,salek60
  8,wait "h1 ,s>a4 ,i'll get hm10 sd ,dr4 ,kaplan4 ,!n turn+ 6,rudi he w>n$1 8,don't y move40
  ,salek 0 try+ 6fi<t 8 way up ! ,c|ncil build+ /airs1 b ea* "t he w5t up "o /ep1 he 0 %ov$ back d{n 0a soldi}4 ,he 0 no mat* = gr{n m51 & ,rudi cd n 2lieve t he kept on try+4
  8,i j want 6see my "f1 pl1se10 ,rudi he>d hm pl1d+4
  8,try ? way10 sd "o soldi} z he /epp$ aside4 ,b z soon z ,salek tri$ 6pass1 he %ov$ hm d{n ! /airs4
  8,maybe he ?9ks he c get "? "h bett}10 %|t$ ano!r soldi}4
  ,0! "t ,dr4 ,kaplan r1*$ hm1 ! soldi}s 7 mak+ q a sport | ( %ov+ hm >.d4 ,qkly ,dr4 ,kaplan took hold ( hm4
  8,oh1 let hm -e1 let hm -e10 lau<$ ! ,g}mans4
  8,salek10 sd ,dr4 ,kaplan1 turn+ hm >.d4 ,rudi cd see te>s /r1m+ d{n ,salek's face4
  8,if ,i cd j get 6papa10 ,salek cri$1 8,i wd "k :at we %d d40
  8,y're n help+ matt}s10 ,dr4 ,kaplan told hm4 8,n{ -e on4 ,we're go+ back 6yr "m40 ,he took hm firmly 0! h&4 ,salek submitt$4
  ,j z ,rudi's "f turn$ ,salek ov} 6his "m1 ! cr{d 0 4tract$ 0a ,g}man milit>y c> driv+ up ) s"eal m (fic}s--"o ( :om 0 ,capta9 ,franke4 ,z ! (fic}s got | (! c> & made _! way t{>d ! build+1 ! man f ! ,c|ncil :o _h be5 sp1k+ 6!m mov$ deep} 96! cr{d until he 4appe>$4
  ,capta9 ,franke 0 w1v+ 8 way "? ! cr{d :5 he spott$ ,dr4 ,kaplan4 ,*ang+ 8 c|rse1 ,franke made 8 way t{>d ,rudi's "f4
  8,dr4 ,kaplan1 ,i 2lieve10 he sd :5 he _h r1*$ !m4 8,wd y 2 s k9d z 6tell me :at is go+ on "h80
  8,y %d "k10 sd "o woman 2f ,rudi's "f cd answ}4
  8,ah1 ,madame1 t's ": y're wr;g10 sd ,capta9 ,franke calmly4 8,ev5 ! milit>y has xs pro#ms ) -munic,n4 ,i did n ord} ? ga!r+4 ,t is :y ,i'm "h n{40 ,!n turn+ back 6,dr4 ,kaplan1 he 3t9u$4 8,n{1 tell me :o is "! & :y4 ,& !n ,i w make my 5tr.e40
  8,!y h ab tw5ty ,jewi% ,c|ncil memb}s 9 "!1 & !y're ?r1t5+ 6kill !m40
  8,i presume by ,8!y0' y m1n soldi}s80 ask$ ,capta9 ,franke4
  8,yes1 ,i m1n soldi}s10 repli$ ,dr4 ,kaplan4 8,i only "k ! "n ( "o--,m5de--a "n ,i'd l 6=get10 he sd quietly4
  8,yes10 sd ,capta9 ,franke1 look+ d{n at ,rudi4 8,i imag9e y wd40
  8,app>5tly ! ,c|ncil refus$ 6-ply ) an ord} 6e/abli% a <etto = ,jews40
  8,a <etto80 sd ,capta9 ,franke qkly4
  8,yes40
  ,! ,capta9 /ood = s"eal mo;ts1 & x appe>$ t ! m he ?"| ab ,dr4 ,kaplan's ~ws1 ! m agitat$ he 2came4 ,at l5g? he sd1 8,& y say ,m5de is 9 "!80
  8,he is10 sd ,dr4 ,kaplan4 ,at t mo;t ! doors op5$4 ,! ,c|ncil memb}s 7 2+ l$ | & d{n ! /airs 9 s+le file4 ,rudi saw ,mr4 ,s}dusek4
  8,"! he is1 ,salek10 sd ,rudi1 po9t+ hm |4
  8,papa10 ,salek cri$ & ran t{>d hm4 ,he>+ 8 son1 ,mr4 ,s}dusek look$ up b lo/ 8 foot+ & tripp$ on "o (! /eps4 ,immly a soldi} 2gan 6la% hm )a :ip4
  8,}yk60 8 wife cri$ |1 b %e 0 too f"r5$ 6move4 ,dr4 ,kaplan %ov$ ! cr{d aside & ru%$ 6hm4 ,mr4 ,s}dusek 0 try+ 6get up1 b ! soldi}'s bl{s h9d}$ hm4 ,rudi's "f pu%$ ,salek | (! way & tri$ 6%ield ,mr4 ,s}dusek f ! attack4 ,:5 ,rudi saw 8 "f 2+ la%$1 he ran 6!m z well & 0 ab 6te> 96! ,g}man :5 ,capta9 ,franke /epp$ in4
  8,/op x60 he ord}$ ! soldi}4 ,! soldi}1 ll m ?an a boy1 look$ up surpris$1 8 h& / pois$ 6/rike ano!r bl{4
  8,/op x1 ,i sd60 rep1t$ ,capta9 ,franke4 ,! soldi} obey$1 & ,dr4 ,kaplan help$ ,salek's "f 6his feet4 ,0? "t1 ,mrs4 ,s}dusek _h jo9$ !m4
  ,m5de em}g$ f ! build+4 ,z soon z he saw ,franke1 he approa*$ hm4 8,we >e tak+ a few ( ~! ,jews ) u 69sure t we get :at we want | (! re/4 ,!y >e v loyal 6ea* o!r1 y "k10 he sd1 look+ at ,mrs4 ,s}dusek cl++ 6h} husb&4 8,r cl"e1 don't y ?9k80
  ,capta9 ,franke ignor$ ,m5de & turn$ 6! soldi} :o _h b1t5 ,mr4 ,s}dusek4 8,i d n want 6see y lift t :ip ag4 ,is t cle>80
  8,yes1 sir10 ! "y soldi} repli$4
  8,t goes =! re/ ( y z well10 he sd1 a4ress+ ! o!r m54 8,i expect my soldi}s 6behave !mvs z milit>y m510 he 3t9u$1 8n z -mon1 undiscipl9$ rab#60 ,!n he turn$ t{>d ,m5de & sd1 8,i w see y 9 my (fice--n{40 ,& )|t wait+ =a reply1 he turn$ & walk$ away4
  ,m5de /ood sc{l+ until ,franke's c> drove | ( si<t4 ,!n he %|t$ 6! m54 8,-e on1 let's get !m 96! truck40
  ,mr4 ,s}dusek g5tly pu%$ 8 wife f hm & turn$ 6,dr4 ,kaplan4 8,jakob--0
  8,don't worry10 ,rudi's "f assur$ hm4 8,i w wat* ov} ,s>a & ,salek until yr return40
  ,salek took 8 "f's >m4 8,papa1 tell !m "s?+4 ,expla9 6!m t--well1 j say "s?+ 6let !m "k !y _c take y away40
  ,mr4 ,s}dusek g5tly =c$ ,salek 6rel1se 8 hold & look+ d{n on hm sd1 8,i--,i c d no?+1 son40
  ,salek look$ z if he 7 unc}ta9 t he _h he>d 8 "f say s* ~ws4 8,b1 papa1 y sd t y cd r1son ) !m--t y cd f9d a way40
  ,8 "f %ook 8 h1d1 & 9 a voice t ,rudi b>ely he>d1 he sd1 8,i 0 wr;g40
  ,salek /ood mo;n.s1 help.sly look+ up 96his "f's face4 ,mr4 ,s}dusek cd n be> ! look & turn$ 6his wife4 8,i'm sorry1 ,s>a10 he sd z !y l$ hm away4
  ,rudi's "f put 8 >m >.d ,mrs4 ,s}dusek & drew ,rudi & ,salek 6hm z well4 8,we won't give up10 he sd4 8,"! is / hope40
  8,n = ,jews1 ,jakob10 ,mrs4 ,s}dusek repli$4 8,no man w d>e 6help a ,jew40
  8,i d n 9t5d 6rely on ! help ( m510 sd ,rudi's "f4 8,i w g 6! ,god :o cr1t$ !m40
  8,i'm afraid ,he1 too1 has =sak5 u10 sd ,mrs4 ,s}dusek4
  8,y're wr;g1 ,s>a10 0 all t ,rudi's "f repli$4 ,x 0 gr{+ d>k4 ,s9ce no m cd 2 d"o t "d1 ,rudi & 8 "f took ,salek & ,mrs4 ,s}dusek home4 ,!y left !m )! assur.e t 9 ! morn+ ,dr4 ,kaplan wd visit ,ge/apo h1dqu>t}s & f9d | any 9=m,n he cd4
  8,papa10 sd ,rudi1 once !y >riv$ home safely1 8,i h alw 2liev$ t ,god w he> me :5 ,i pray4 ,b "r n{ ,i'm n s sure4 ,f ! looks ( ?+s1 x seems ,mrs4 ,s}dusek is "r2 maybe ,god has =sak5 u4 ,maybe :at p >e say+ is true--maybe ,he is angry )! ,jews = putt+ ,*ri/ 6d1?40
  ,8 "f sat d{n at ! ta# & mo;n$ = ,rudi 6jo9 hm4 8,rudi10 he 2gan1 8,*ri/ came 6e>? 6die & rise ag4 ,no man or race ( m5 took ,8 life f ,hm2 ,he laid x d{n = u--all ( u--t we mi<t live4 ,we >e all guilty 2f ,god = |r s91 &= t s9 ,*ri/ di$4 ,b ,he made t sacrifice will+ly4 ,p :o a3use ! ,jews sp1k z if ,*ri/'s d1? 7 "s un=tunate mistake4 ,& t is fooli%;s40
  8,!n y re,y ?9k t ,he / he>s u--t ,he w he> u :5 we pray = ,mr4 ,s}dusek80 ask$ ,rudi4
  8,yes1 ,i d10 8 "f sd4 8,i w g fur!r1 son1 & say t ? :ole a6air td may 2 ! 2g9n+ (! answ} 6a pray} ,i h pray$ = _m ye>s40
  8,:at pray}80 ask$ ,rudi4
  8,y "k t =a l;g "t ,i've tri$ 6sp1k ) ,mr4 ,s}dusek ab ,*ri/4 ,he wd n"e li/54 ,t's v pa9;l = me1 ,rudi1 = ,}yk ,s}dusek & ,i h be5 frs = ye>s4 ,z a matt} ( fact1 :5 we 7 "y1 we 7 m* l y & ,salek10 he sd1 smil+4 8,! only di6};e 0 t he 0 usu,y ! "o 6l1d u 96all k9ds ( wild adv5tures4 ,9 yrs & ,salek's case1 y >e ! "o 6d ! l1d+4
  8,b did y see hm td1 ,rudi1 :5 he came | ( t build+80 8 "f ask$ z 8 smile fad$4
  8,yes10 ,rudi sd4 8,x's ! f/ "t ,i h "e se5 hm look--,i guess ,8afraid40'0
  8,t's "r4 ,y see1 he has alw be5 a /r;g1 self-su6ici5t man4 ,b 9 t room td1 ,i ?9k he r1liz$ =! f/ "t t "! >e ?+s 9 life t he _c ma/}4 ,& ,rudi1 t is a t}ri# bl{ =a man l ,}yk ,s}dusek40
  8,i don't ?9k x 0 too easy on ,salek ei10 ,rudi a4$4
  8,i "k4 ,b son1 x's ! f/ /ep t{>d r1liz+ _! true ne$s4 ,i ?9k t n{ ,mr4 ,s}dusek may 2 will+ 6admit t 6be /r;g or wise or ev5 ,8gd0' is n 5 6keep u f ! p}ils ( ? life--or ! next4 ,m5 ne$ "s"o /r;g}1 wis}1 & bett} ?an !mvs4 ,!y ne$ ,*ri/40