Page 186 - LEIBY

186 Leiby – Border Smuggler

the group, I checked. I have to wait for her here, maybe she’ll
come back. But you, certainly, investigate, and see what you
come up with. In all the pandemonium that was going on here
when the group left, I didn’t really have the chance to ask too
many questions. Write and let me know what you find out.”

Hersh nodded, donned the old army coat that he had received,
and wrapped a frayed scarf around his neck. Yosef accompanied
him up until the gate of the building, waved goodbye, and stood
watching until he couldn’t see him anymore, calling after him
all the time. “Don’t forget Miriam, don’t forget to ask about her,
don’t forget to write to me…”

Inside the hotel, Leiby was looking around for a place to rest.
He head felt as heavy as lead, and every limb in his body cried
out for sleep. Eventually, he found a long, rectangular, empty
plant pot standing by the window, a throwback to the glory days
before the war, when the hotel had been elegant and opulently
furnished. He climbed inside, lay down, and within moments
was fast asleep.

Yosef sat himself down next to him and looked out at the street
below. Horses and carriages, old cars, and rushing villagers
filled every inch of space and the street buzzed with activity.
He scanned the area, hoping to see a young girl wandering
around all alone, but of course he saw no one answering to that
description. The majority of the passersby were young adults,
and babies and children were few and far between. Suddenly
he spied her – the small, hunched figure of a blond-haired
girl walking slowly down the street. He jumped up like a man
possessed and raced outside.

The girl had long, fair braids, and was holding the hand of a
smartly dressed young woman in a wide-brimmed hat. Yosef ’s
heart plummeted. She wasn’t his sister Miriam; she looked
similar to what Miriam had looked like while she was in the
farmer’s care, but her appearance had changed drastically since
then. Then, her hair had been long and combed to a sheen,
braided, and tied with neat ribbons. She had worn nice, clean