Page 10 - LEIBY

10 Leiby – Border Smuggler

froze in his seat.

The door opened, and two armed policemen walked in holding
a large, official looking envelope. Leiby stared in shock at the
large red letters stamped all over it. He knew that this was just
the letter he had dreaded receiving.

“We have here a draft letter for Leibel Postavsky.”

“There’s no one here with that name,” Leiby croaked, hoping
fervently that the policemen wouldn’t realize that he was
actually the person they were looking for – surely they could
see that he was still young, too young to be drafted into the
Red Army.

“Leiby – don’t try any games with us,” the policeman’s voice was
cold as ice.

Leiby blinked, trying to remember. Yes, the stranger looked
familiar. He suddenly recalled. Of course, it was Stefan, the
partisan who had been Punktcha’s deputy in the forest. He had
joined the local police force in order to avoid fighting on the
Prussian Front and now spared no effort in trying to discover
other partisans who had escaped to the city, and to enlist them
into the military.

“I’m just a boy, I’m too young to be drafted.”

“You Jews are always trying to get out of carrying out your
duties,” Stefan hissed. “You just want everyone else to fight the
Germans, instead of you. You, Leiby, you were the best scout
in our group and the army needs you. We’re giving you ten
minutes to get ready, and then you’re coming with us. If you
don’t, you’ll be registered as a deserter, and the penalty for that
is death!”

Leiby paled. “I’m ill… I don’t feel well… I haven’t recovered yet
from the fighting in the forest.”

Stefan laughed, a cold mocking laugh. “The medical committee
will decide if you’re capable of joining the army or not.” He
slammed the envelope down onto the table. “Ten minutes,” he
repeated, then looking around the room, from the sparkling