Page 203 - LEIBY

Chapter 26 203

corrected himself. “I mean I don’t know the way.”

“Well, I’m going as far as the next village. When you want to
get off, just let me know.”

Leiby thanked the farmer and made himself comfortable on
the heap of sweet-smelling hay in the cart. Where should he
go? First, he would return to the farm to let Alexander know
that he was back in town, and to equip himself with some
money and clothing. Then he would continue eastward, to
the territories that had been taken from Poland and annexed
to the Soviet Union. When he would arrive there, he’d have
to locate the farm where Maria’s family lived and try to find
out where the child was. As Leiby contemplated his plans, a
feeling of melancholy threatened to overwhelm him. He had
succeeded in entering Poland, which as of now was still a free,
democratic country, but he had to leave and go to communist
Belorussia. He felt like a total fool, knowingly and purposely
placing himself in danger. But what else could he do? There was
really no other option. He had to trace Mirushka’s tracks, and
she had chosen to return there.

“I’m getting off !” he called to the farmer, but his voice was
swallowed up in the noise of the clattering iron wheels.

“Stop… Stop…” he turned and tapped the farmer on his back.

The farmer jumped up in fright, and the horses after him – he
had totally forgotten about the boy riding in the back of his
cart…

“What do you want? How did you get here?”

“It’s me, the boy you let ride with you. I need to get off here.”

The farmer hit the horses lightly on the back and they stopped
immediately.

“Get off, boy, but don’t steal chickens or eggs from the farms
around here.”

Leiby was insulted. “Do I look like a thief to you?”