Page 110 - LEIBY

110 Leiby – Border Smuggler

know Leiby.

“Alexander, stop being ridiculous,” Leiby reproached. “Of
course you know me, and I know you – here, on your left cheek
is the scar you got when we were shot at while we were booby-
trapping the railroad tracks east of Lida. And roll up your right
sleeve and show us the burn mark that you got when we burned
down the hateful informer Mitzovsky’s shack …”

Leiby continued to rattle off his memories from his combat
days in the forest, and Alexander seemed to soften his stiff
military stance a little and even smiled halfheartedly.

“What are you doing here? Leiby asked again.

“I’ve come to visit my grandfather’s grave, he was the only one
of my family who got to be buried properly. He was lucky – he
died a month before the war broke out.” Alexander glanced at
his watch and started. “I’m in a hurry, and you’re delaying me,
Leiby. Just go away!”

Leiby grew red with affront, which soon turned into anger.
Alexander was ignoring their shared past! But they had been
like brothers! Huddled together in the trenches, German bullets
flying overhead, the Jewish partisans fighting together against
the Germans in the forest had signed a brotherly pact between
themselves and had sworn to always look out for one another.
Up until today, whenever he had met up with any of them, even
those who were now in the most prominent of positions, they
had always shown him only friendship and willingness to help
him. What had happened to Alexander?

The sun rose high in the sky and the day grew warmer.
Alexander turned his head and motioned to Leiby to stay
where he was and not to follow him, before he disappeared
behind the immense weeds that grew wild between the rows of
gravestones. He evidently had no wish for onlookers while he
visited his grandfather’s grave, the only member of his family
who had received a Jewish burial. Leiby kept his distance and
waited patiently for Alexander to return. It was an eerie feeling
to be alone in the graveyard; Leiby felt as if he was being