Page 78 - LEIBY

78 Leiby – Border Smuggler

Chapter 9

A piercing whistle split the air. Leiby made his way to the
checkpoint. He waved his hand in farewell to the soldiers with
whom he had worked with for some time already, and with
whom he had struck up some firm friendships. They liked the
spunky boy, or more likely, they liked the vodka and cigarettes
that he shared with them generously whenever they solved any
problem together.
The Russian soldiers checked the refugees’ documents only
perfunctorily and refrained from asking unnecessary questions.
When refugees arrived at the border with problematic
documents, or without any papers at all, they were sent to the
police station in the nearby town. Yank, a local farmer, would
drive the infiltrators there in his small van, accompanied by one
of the soldiers, and Leiby would join them. The refugees would
crowd into the back of the tarpaulin-covered van, while Leiby
and the soldier sat up in front. And then the negotiations would
begin, long and grueling.
Leiby would offer the soldier a few rubles, and in exchange
he would agree to allow Leiby to continue on alone with the
refugees to the police building. Sometimes the soldier would
bargain with Leiby and would extort a higher fee. Other times,
he would demand a bonus of a few bottles of vodka or a pack