,,*apt} ,,sev5te5
     ,,ni<t ,,raid}s
     ,nov4 #aici

,& :5 ye % he> ( w>s & rum|rs ( w>s1 2 ye n tr|#& = s* ?+s m/ ne$s be4
---,m>k #ac3g;a

  ,! fire _h g"o |4 ,x 0 pit* d>k & icy cold :5 ,osc> awak5$ ,rudi f a deep sleep4 ,rudi _h n"e be5 s tir$4 ,8 >ms & legs felt l l1d z he unwill+ly /um#d 6his feet1 & once /&+1 he want$ s m* 6lie back d{n t x 0 alm pa9;l4
  ,b ,osc> 0 impati5t4 8,we've got 6get mov+10 he sd1 & !y set | immly4
  ,af foll{+ ! riv} =a few h|rs1 !y at la/ em}g$ f ! =e/ 96a field s"eal miles we/ ,(! c;y4 8,>5't y afraid "s"o mi<t see u80 ,rudi ask$4
  8,n "h10 ,osc> repli$4 8,! ,g}mans don't usu,y -e ? f> | 96! c.try )|t a gd r1son1 especi,y at ni<t40
  8,:at if t "o ,g}man's / track+ u80 ask$ ,rudi4
  8,he's n10 ,osc> sd4
  8,h{ d y "k80
  8,he came back :ile y 7 sleep+10 ,osc> repli$4 8,he won't 2 bo!r+ u ag40
  8,>e y sure x 0 ! same soldi}80 ask$ ,rudi4
  8,i'm sure10 sd ,osc>4 8,he didn't "k ,i 0 "!4 ,he w5t /rai<t = y40
  8,i wond} h{ he f.d u80
  8,well1 ,i'd say he probably 0 hav+ a pretty h>d "t until he he>d ~? rocks explode10 sd ,osc> smil+ a bit z he rememb}$ ! episode4 8,mo/ likely' he 0 q a bit (f track until y help$ hm |40
  8,i wond} :y he didn't j -e af me :5 he cau<t up ) me e>li}80 ask$ ,rudi4
  8,me too10 repli$ ,osc>1 8b x doesn't matt} m* n{40
  ,!y 3t9u$ on 9 sil;e until ,rudi saw a small village 9 ! 4t.e4
  8,is t ": we're h1d+80 ,rudi ask$4
  8,yes10 repli$ ,osc>4 ,rudi wait$ = ,osc> 6tell hm m4 ,:5 he fail$ 63t9ue1 ,rudi pro4$ hm fur!r4 8,:o >e we go+ 6see80
  8,"!'s a wid{ :o lives "!2 %e's a gd woman &a true patriot10 he sd4 8,h} husb& 0 a soldi}1 "o ( ~? kill$ def5d+ ,w>saw40
  8,did y "k hm well80
  8,yes10 repli$ ,osc>4 ,8 t"o made ,rudi hesitant 6ask m specific "qs ab ! man2 s he %ift$ ! 3v}s,n back 6! woman4
  8,does %e h any *n80 he ask$4
  8,no10 sd ,osc>4 8,j a nephew :o /ays ) h}4 ,he's a s|r-fac$ boy1 & ,i don't ?9k he likes ! idea ( |r resi/.e gr|p meet+ "!40
  8,d y ?9k he'd "e tell any"o ab x80
  8,if he d>$ to1 ,i'd hate 6see hm af %e 0 d"o ) hm10 ,osc> sd4 8,%e lets hm talk1 b he "ks bett} ?an 6try any?+ else40
  8,:at %d ,i d :5 we get "!80
  8,sit d{n & 5joy ! w>m? (! cottage fire4 ,& li/5 c>e;lly40
  ,rudi & ,osc> 7 greet$ at ! door 0! wid{4 ,%e 0 a tall1 /rik+ woman4 ,?|< h} black hair 0 /r1k$ ) gray1 h} face _h a s(t;s t made h} seem y|?;l & h} voice a k9d;s t put ,rudi at ease4
  8,y're ! la/ 6>rive10 %e sd1 a4ress+ ,osc>4 8,/>t$ a bit lat} ?an usual10 he expla9$4 8,! boy ne$$ "s sleep40
  8,looks z if he cd h us$ m10 %e sd1 look+ d{n at hm4 8,y're ,rudi80
  ,rudi no4$4 8,i'm ,anna10 %e sd1 8& t's ,josef10 %e a4$1 po9t+ 6a sull5 boy sitt+ 9 ! corn}4
  ,cat*+ ,rudi's eye1 ,josef gave hm a look ( scorn t immly put ,rudi on $ge4 ,f ! looks ( hm1 ,rudi guess$ t ,josef 0 ?ree1 maybe f|r ye>s old} ?an he was4
  ,anna l$ !m ov} 6! ta# ": !y jo9$ ei<t m5 alr s1t$4
  8,~! >e my fell{ patriots10 sd ,osc> z he & ,rudi sat d{n4
  ,rudi obs}v$ ! m5 c>e;lly4 ,"s ( !m--r|<1 unkempt m5--look$ z if !y 7 a3u/om$ 6_! tatt}$ clo?+4 ,o!rs1 h{"e1 seem$ m l g5tlem5 :o _h n yet r1liz$ t !y 7 dress$ 9 rags4
  ,anna set a jug ( sok 7a type ( fruit juice made f black currant7 & "s hot tea 2f !m4 ,%e al br"| a plate ( m1t s&wi*es & waf}-?9 cookies4
  ,rudi 0 su45ly wide awake1 & x took all 8 self -3trol n 6r1* | & grab s"eal cookies4
  ,he look$ at ! o!rs4 ,!y 7 talk+ am;g !mvs & h>dly seem$ 6notice t any?+ 0 set 2f !m4 ,x !n o3urr$ 6hm t n"o ( !m _h t l1n1 hungry expres.n he _h se5 on s _m faces 9 ,w>saw4
  8,hungry80 sd ,anna1 z %e set a plate & cup 2f hm4
  8,he %dn't be10 sd ,osc>4 8,he _h a big supp}4 ,& he probably "| n 6be /u6+ hmf on 8 f/ "d | (! c;y40
  8,/10 sd ,anna1 8,i ?9k he c f9d "s room = cookies40
  8,:at d y say1 ,rudi80 ask$ ,osc> )a gr94 8,h any room left80
  8,pl5ty10 sd ,rudi4 ,gr{+ brav}1 he a4$1 8,": d y get all ? food8 ,we--!y're />v+ 9 ,w>saw40
  8,! l& has alw be5 gd 6me10 sd ,anna4 8,? ye> is no di6}5t1 ?|< h>ve/ "t 0 h>d} )! m5 (f fi<t+40 ,%e paus$ &a sad;s pass$ ov} h} face1 b x vani%$ ! next mo;t4
  8,s* gd =tune c't la/ ="e10 sd ,josef4 ,"ey"o turn$ & look$ f/ at ,josef1 !n at ,osc>4 ,al? ,osc> made no reply ,rudi notic$ t he 2gan 6pull on 8 mu/a*e 9 irrit,n4
  8,if y're worri$1 :y don't y jo9 u & try do+ "s?+ ab x80 sd "o (! soldi}s4
  8,i am do+ "s?+10 ,josef repli$4
  8,& :at is t80 ano!r soldi} *all5g$4
  8,i am wait+10 sd ,josef4
  8,wait+80
  8,yes6 ,wait+ until ,hitl} 3trols ,pol& z he does ,g}_m60
  ,9 a mo;t "o soldi} 0 on 8 feet1 advanc+ t{>d ! boy4 8,y ll--0
  ,osc> block$ 8 pa?4 8,sit d{n10 he snapp$4 8,he's j a /upid boy4 ,let hm talk40 ,! soldi} sat d{n1 & af a mo;t ,osc> did too4
  8,i may 2 "y1 b ,i am wis} ?an all ( y put tgr4 ,x's y--y & o!rs l y--t keep ,pol& 9 *a9s10 ,josef la%$ |1 he$.s (! soldi}s m5ac+ look4 8,once we ac"kl$ge ,hitl}1 he w d = u :at he has d"o = ,g}_m4 ,!n "! w 2 5 food = "ey"o4 ,we h only 6d z he says40
  8,y wd sell yr s|l =a piece ( br1d60 ! soldi} %|t$4
  8,& y wd let ?iev+ ,jews & gypsies rob ! ,poli% p ( :at is "r;lly _!s40
  8,t's 5|<10 w>n$ ,anna4 ,b ,josef's -;t _h made ,rudi s angry t he _h n ev5 he>d h}4
  8,jews >5't ?ieves10 he sd gl>+ at ,josef4
  8,h{ wd y "k8 ,y a ,jew-lov}8 ,or maybe y're a ,jew yrf10 sd ,josef1 gl>+ back4
  ,osc> plac$ a h& on ,rudi's >m1 & 0=ce ( w ,rudi manag$ 6keep sil5t4
  8,he "ks10 sd ,osc>1 ris+ f 8 *air & mov+ sl{ly 6! corn}1 82c he's a b"r boy1 "o :o is sm>t 5 n 6li/5 6fools :o promise br1d & h& | /"os40
  ,rudi 0 a ll surpris$ at ,osc>'s /aun* def5se1 b x pl1s$ hm4
  ,osc> /ood t{}+ ov} ,josef1 d>+ hm 6reply4 ,josef knew he _h no *.e ag/ s* an oppon5ts4 ,ris+ f 8 /ool1 he mov$ | ( ,osc>'s way4 ,!n he left ! cottage1 slamm+ ! door 2h hm4
  8,:y d y let hm /ay1 ,anna80 sd "o (! soldi}s4
  8,2c he's family1 & 2c ,i hope he w "o "d -e 6his s5ses40
  8,i don't "k1 ,anna10 sd ,osc>4 8,he's a bad "o4 ,maybe y "| 6make hm g4 ,he's old 5 6f5d = hmf1 & ,i don't see m* hope ( "e *ang+ hm4
  ,%e /ood a mo;t1 ?9k+4 8,i w decide :5 he is pa/ hope10 %e f9,y sd 6,osc>4 ,!n turn+ t{>d ! re/ (! gr|p1 %e a4$1 8,i w decide :5 x is "t 6make hm g40
  8,we've wa/$ 5 "t >gu+10 ,osc> sd1 return+ 6his s1t4 8,let's get d{n 6busi;s4 ,i've rcvd ~w t "! w 2 five ,g}man trucks pass+ ab f|r miles f "h at #c3jj 9 ! morn+40
  8,:at >e !y c>ry+80 a soldi} ask$4
  8,ammuni;n10 sd ,osc>1 smil+4
  8,:at's ! plan80 ano!r ask$4 8,we take "o & bl{ up ! o!rs40
  8,:y n take !m all80
  8,wdn't "w4 ,we'll h a h>d 5 "t jump+ "o40
  8,:o's go+ 6take ! "o80
  8,i w10 sd ,osc>4 8,i want ! re/ ( y 6spr1d ,yrvs | al;g ! roadside1 two 0two1 ab fifty y>ds a"p4 ,,i'll 2 la/ 9 l9e1 wait+ =! fif? truck 6pass--t's ! "o ,i'll g =4 ,:5 y see me /& up1 ,i want y ea* 6take aim & bl{ ! gas tanks | (! o!rs4 ,if y're su3ess;l1 ! driv} (! la/ truck w 2 s rattl$1 ,i'll h no tr|# jump+ ! truck & ov}tak+ hm40
  8,& if we're n80 ask$ "o man4
  8,we'll worry ab t :5 ! "t -es10 sd ,osc>4
  8,:at ab hm80 sd a soldi}1 po9t+ 6,rudi4
  8,he'll 2 -+ ) u10 ,osc> sd4 ,!n turn+ 6,rudi he a4$1 8,y'll hang back1 h{"e4 ,if we fall1 take 6yr heels z fa/ z y c & h1d /rai<t =! woods4 ,"! w 2 at l1/ 5 -mo;n 6give y "t 6get | ( si<t40
  8,c y make x on yr {n1 boy80 "s"o ask$4
  8,hope;lly1 he won't h to10 ,osc> sd 2f ,rudi cd answ}4 8,at l1/ n until ,i've _h a few m weeks 6t1* hm ! ropes4 ,b if y d h 6g x al"o10 he 3t9u$ a4ress+ ,rudi1 8rememb}1 y at l1/ "k h{ 6cook a ra2it4 ,y ne$n't />ve40
  8,sp1k+ ( eat+10 ,anna sd1 8,i ?9k y all _h bett} f9i% up ~! s&wi*es2 y'll ne$ !m40
  ,0midni<t !y 7 on _! way4 ,rudi /ay$ close 6,osc>4 ,n t he did n tru/ ! o!rs1 b he felt t !y view$ hm z a burd5 r ?an a -panion4
  8,we've got =ty m9utes if !y >e travel+ on s*$ule10 ,osc> ann|nc$ :5 !y _h r1*$ _! de/9,n4 8,let's get 96posi;n n{40
  ,! m5 obey$4 8,i want y 6move back s"eal y>ds10 sd ,osc> 6,rudi z soon z ! o!rs 7 | ( si<t4 8,y'll 2 a# 6see :at's happ5+--& "! "| 6be pl5ty 6see--b don't /ay too close4 ,if y _h any id1s ab 2+ a h}o s soon1 y c j =get ab !m4 ,y w /ay put until ,i -e af y40
  8,:at if y don't pull x (f80 ask$ ,rudi4 8,h{ w ,i "k :5 6run = x80
  8,if y see f|r trucks g up 9 flames1 /ay put4 ,if few} ?an t1 run = x4 ,n{ g on & get settl$40
  ,:ile wait+1 ,rudi _h "s "t 6?9k4 ,up 6t po9t he _h _h no *.e 6give ?"| 6! 3sequ;es (! resi/.e gr|ps' ac;ns4 ,b z he lay "! 9 ! field1 he 0 rem9d$ (! po/} he _h se5 only weeks ago 9 ! %op w9d{4 ,he 0 _m (! details he cd rememb}4 surpris$ at h{ if "! is any de/ruc;n ( ,g}man prop}ty '''six p w 2 %ot4 ,=! d1? ( any ,g}man soldi} twelve p w 2 %ot4 ,five trucks1 five soldi}s-- '''
  ,he 2gan try+ 6calculate h{ _m lives wd 2 lo/1 b 8 ?"|s 7 9t}rupt$ :5 su45ly he saw ! trucks -e 96view4
  ,!y 7 mov+ qkly1 alm z if !y s5s$ ! dang}4 ,"o1 two1 ?ree1 f|r pass$4 ,rudi saw ,osc> get up4 ,! fif? truck pass$1 & ,osc> jump$ on back ( x j z ! o!rs 2gan fir+4
  ,x seem$ at f/ z if no "o cd hit 8 m>k4 ,!n came a d1f5+ explo.n1 !n ano!r1 & ano!r4 ,flames l1p$ up z ! ammuni;n 3t9u$ 6detonate1 s5d+ debris fly+ 9 e direc;n4 ,! f|r? truck 0 mov+ s qkly t x cra%$ 96! ?ird & explod$4 ,x look$ 6,rudi z if ! truck t c>ri$ ,osc> wd d ! same1 b )9 seconds ( impact1 x sw}v$ (f ! road & 96! field4 ,w1v+ madly1 x 3t9u$ mov+ at a dang}|s spe$ until x f9,y ov}turn$4
  ,! o!rs ru%$ t{>d ! vehicle4 ,5circl+ ! truck1 !y wait$1 rifles r1dy1 :ile a man crawl$ | (! cab4 ,rudi cd n see :o x was4 ,b :5 ! soldi}s l{}$ _! guns1 he knew t x 0 ,osc>4
  ,rudi wat*$ z !y unload$ ! truck & divid$ ! ammuni;n am;g !m4 ,ea* man took z m* z he cd c>ry4 ,!n !y split up1 ea* tak+ a di6}5t r|te t{>d ! =e/4
  8,we did x60 sd ,osc> z he approa*$ ,rudi & mo;n$ = hm 6get up & foll{ hm4 8,t w keep !m /irr$ up =a :ile1 won't x80 he a4$ z !y 2gan _! m>* t{>d ! woods4
  ,x 0 obvi|s t he 0 wait+ = "s ~w ( praise1 b ,rudi (f}$ n"o4
  8,well1 ?anks =! 3gratul,ns10 ,osc> f9,y sd4
  8,i'm sorry10 sd ,rudi4 8,i 0 j ?9k+ ab h{ _m p w 2 %ot = :at we did tn40
  ,9 ! dim li<t (! =e/ ,osc> turn$ 6hm1 a silh|ette ( irrit,n4 8,:at >e y talk+ ab80 he sd4
  ,rudi r1liz$ t ,osc> _h no idea (! li/s t 7 po/$ 9 ! c;y4 ,he expla9$4
  8,well1 :at >e we suppos$ 6d80 he sd :5 ,rudi f9i%$ tell+ hm4 8,>e we j suppos$ 6/& 0& let !m h _! way80
  ,rudi sd no?+4 ,osc> /opp$ & took hm 0! %|ld}4 8,li/51 boy1 d y ?9k t !y wd /op %oot+ p if we /opp$ fi<t+ back80 he ask$4
  8,! ,jews don't d any?+ 6! ,nazis1 &! ,nazis / %oot !m d{n 9 ! /reets or r.d !m up =! "w camps40
  ,! ~ws w5t home 6,rudi1 & he rememb}$ 8 "f /&+ 9 ! truck z !y took hm away4 8,i'm n say+ we %d /op fi<t+10 he sd quietly4
  8,well1 !n :at >e y say+80 ,osc> dem&$4
  8,only t ,i wi% "! 7 "s o!r way 6w910 sd ,rudi4
  ,osc> /ood look+ d{n at ,rudi =a mo;t m1 !n sl{ly turn$4 ,he kept 8 h& on ,rudi's %|ld} & l$ hm back 96! =e/4