Page 77 - LEIBY

Chapter 8 77

But you’ll have to be more careful, young man. If I really was
a secret agent, and you attacked me like that, there would have
been another two agents not two steps away who would have
liquidated you on the spot. Force will not help you at the Soviet
border; you won’t be able to have a weapon there at all. There,
you’ll have to be fully alert at all times, and keep all your wits
about you.”

Leiby blushed, embarrassed at his earlier impulsiveness, but
Yechiel just smiled tolerantly.

“Leiby, from now on your name is Pinchas, and you’re
responsible for the Eastern border between White Russia and
Poland. Good luck in your new job!”

Leiby closed his eyes. Images from the last few days flashed
through his mind: the border that he had crossed twice, the
packed-to-bursting trains, the tension at the border, and his
intense desire to escape and to finally be out of Soviet territory.
And now, so close to freedom, he was going to return there,
and this time in a more dangerous task than ever. Suddenly, he
just wanted to defer Yechiel’s offer and continue on to Poland
together with Mama and Chava. Instead of helping other
people, he would help them, his own family. Chava dreamed of
opening a small bakery in Poland, and they’d surely need him to
assist them with all the technical details. But most of all, a small
voice in Leiby’s mind admitted, he just wanted peace, to stop
having to look over his shoulder all the time, and to feel secure.

Leiby shook off the defeatist thoughts. “Why did I survive
the war if not to help my fellow Jews?” He remembered all the
many occasions when his life had been in immediate danger
and he had vowed that if he would only stay alive, he would
dedicate his life to saving others. And indeed, he had been saved
numerous times. The time had now come to keep his promise.