Page 89 - LEIBY

Chapter 10 89

And inside is the rebbe, with the children,

Teaching them alef beis.

Dear children, remember my words,

Learn and review them well,

Recite again, and recite once more

Kometz aleph – oh.

A pleasant feeling of warmth enveloped Leiby, but it was
soon interrupted by the interrogator who suddenly seemed
to remember where he was. He still spoke pleasantly, but the
conversation changed dramatically. “Of course, now I know
that it’s all nonsense. We have to be part of the family of nations
if we want to enjoy harmony with the other nations.”

He looked sharply at Leiby and asked with an abruptness that
took Leiby’s breath away, “So what is your job with all the
groups that go to the border?”

Leiby deliberated for a minute, thinking what to answer. What
would be less incriminating – to deny everything, or to admit
to some of the charges, and attempt to play down his part in
the operations?

“We’ve seen you accompanying large groups to the border many
times, we know everything, you’ll gain nothing by lying.”

“Yes, I accompany groups on occasion,” Leiby answered glibly.
“I know my way around the area very well and even served as
navigator in a partisan troop for two years, so sometimes Jewish
refugees turn to me to show them the way to the border.”

“But who do you work under? And how much do they pay you
per head?” The interrogator banged loudly with his fist on the
table.

“Pay me? Who should pay me? I help them, they’re poor people
who just want to return to the homes that they left behind. It’s
a mitzvah to help them.”

“Stop the religious propaganda here,” the investigator snarled.
“I’ll send you to see the white bears in Siberia if you continue