Page 90 - LEIBY

90 Leiby – Border Smuggler

with your denial of the facts. We have records of everything
that you’ve done.”

He lowered his voice and made an effort to speak more gently.
“Believe me, we have nothing against you, you’re just a child.
We’re not out to get you, we’re after your employers. They’ve
been taking advantage of you! They’ve brainwashed the poor
Jewish refugees into being terrified to remain in Russia, and
then take a fortune from them in exchange for helping them
cross the border to Poland. They’ve filled their pockets with
gold and left you with nothing!”

“But I don’t have any employers !” Leiby stuck stubbornly
to his version of the facts. “I was asked by random people to
lead them to the border, and I did it totally voluntarily, without
asking for any payment.”

“We’ll get everything out of you in the end,” the interrogator
shouted, “but if you tell us on your own, we’ll take it into
consideration before sentencing you!”

“I already told you,” Leiby repeated wearily, “I don’t work for
anyone.”

The investigation went on for hours, until the interrogator had
had enough, and Leiby was sent back to his cell, exhausted and
totally depleted. Sapped of any bit of strength, he lay down on
the dirty concrete floor and tried to sleep.

“Just admit everything, boy,” one of the inmates, probably an
inside agent, whispered in Leiby’s ear. “You’re just a child, they
won’t do anything to you, why should you continue to languish
here?”

“I have nothing to admit,” Leiby snapped, and slapped the
flabbergasted prisoner on his face.

After a short respite,Leiby was once again taken for interrogation,
this time by a different, fresh and alert investigator. He was
asked the same questions again and again, and he felt his head
spinning like a runaway train.

“Do you know Yechiel Greenstein?”