Sheva's Promise by Sylvia Lederman

Author:Sylvia Lederman [Lederman, Sylvia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Syracuse University Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

7

A Perilous Refuge

FOR A FEW MINUTES I remained standing in a state of utter confusion and shock. I could only wonder why Dr. Jagoda was risking his life for me. I was a total stranger—yet he had inexplicably decided to help me.

I sat down on the cot and folded my hands tightly, trying to steady my shaking body. Would I be able to live through this war? How I longed for my dear ones—my home—the normal life we once knew!

I could not control my emotions any longer and began to cry bitterly. I covered my mouth with my hands to stifle the sobs; I was choking . . . but I had to cry. I was very, very tired. Without removing my clothes, I crawled under the blanket and tried at last to sleep. The pillow was hard, as if stuffed with rocks. No doubt it was filled with straw or chopped feathers; it hurt my aching head. I wanted so much to sleep, but was afraid that I might cry out in my dreams of terror. However, weariness took its toll, and after some time I must have fallen asleep in spite of my caution. A squealing noise wakened me; I shook with fear, for I felt something creeping along the blanket (the cot on which I slept was quite low, almost touching the floor). I was afraid to turn on the light—if there indeed was a light in this room. I could now feel that something was jumping all over the cot. I drew up my legs till they touched my chin; I wanted to cry out but suppressed my screams.

When my eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness, I could make out some small creatures—rats! Yes, rats! Oh, God, how would I live through this night? Why did I agree to come to this awful shelter? I slid out of bed and in the darkness I felt around until I found the chair—from the chair I jumped onto the table. Curled up into a ball, I covered myself with my coat, pulled the collar over my head, and in this fashion spent the rest of the night. Oh, if my mother should see me suffering so in this black hole infested with rats!

I could not get used to the sound of those squealing rats, even though I pulled the coat collar tighter about my ears. In a wave of hysteria I thought I would start screaming so loudly that the whole world would hear me. Why must I suffer only because I’m Jewish? It was stifling hot in the hole—the window was closed and curtained, I was completely dressed and perspiring from excitement, unable to catch my breath. And I was afraid to stir . . . Oh, if only day would come! As soon as it grew light outside the rats would disappear. Crouched atop the table, at last I saw the pale light of dawn breaking through the heavy rag-like drape that covered the window—after what was surely the longest night that I had ever known.

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