Page 27 - LEIBY

Chapter 3 27

said that he has a son just my age and he hopes that someone
cares for him too. Then he took my hand in his and led me to
the nearby village. He filched a horse from one of the farmers,
hoisted me up onto the saddle, and ran off with me through the
endless fields. I bounced up and down on the horse’s back and
held on to the saddle for dear life.

“Eventually Vanya stopped the horse near a large, lone
farmhouse. He kicked the door open and entered the house
as if it was his own. An enormous sheepdog bounded towards
us, teeth bared and barking ferociously, but Vanya threw him a
piece of meat that stopped the dog in his tracks.

“’Who’s there?’ We heard the quavering voice of the farmer
from inside one of the rooms.

“’Partisans! Get here immediately!’

“The frightened farmer came out of his room. ‘What do you
want? I have nothing to give you, the partisans and the Germans
have already taken everything I had.’

“Vanya laughed. ‘This time we’ve come to give you something.”
He pointed at me.‘This is Boris, he’s a nice kid, he’s Commander
Punktcha’s nephew. He’ll help you on the farm.’ Vanya smiled,
but his eyes held a clear threat. ‘Look after him well. If anything
happens to him, we’ll come and burn down your entire farm
with everyone inside it. We won’t let anyone get away. Be
careful!’

“The farmer stared at us in fright, speechless.

“’Don’t be so afraid,’ Vanya continued, in a slightly less harsh
tone. ‘Just take good care of the boy, and very soon, when the
Red Army takes control of the area, we’ll take care of you too.’

“Vanya shook my hand in farewell. He removed his watch and
handed it to me, as a gift. Vanya was a good man, and he treated
me like his son. I told him so, and he said that I reminded him
of his son, and he’d give anything to see him just once more.

“’I’m sure you’ll see him again soon,’ I told Vanya. ‘G-d will help
you get home. You took care of me, so surely G-d will take care