Page 127 - Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

and every day of the week I stay alive. One day at a
time. Then 2 for Gitl and Shmuel, who are here in this
place, too."
"Her aunt and uncle," Shifre added. "She is living
with them . . . was living with them."
"And 4 for . . . for . . ." She stopped, closed her
eyes, and thought a minute. Four was such a comforting
number, a familiar number, a family number. She wasn't
sure why. "And 4 is for my family, I think. I almost
remember them. If I close my eyes they are there, hov-
ering within sight. But when I open my eyes, they are
gone."
"It happens/' Rivka said.
"Her parents died of cholera. In Lublin. It was a
great tragedy, Tante Gitl said," Shifre volunteered. "But
maybe . . " She looked around the barracks. "Maybe
.
it was a great blessing."
"No," Hannah said suddenly. "No. Not them. Not
in Lublin. Not those parents. At least not exactly."
This time it was Shifre who put her hand on Hannah's
arm, though she spoke to Rivka. "Do not mind her
ramblings. She was terribly sick before she came to live
with Gitl and Shmuel. Once the doctors thought she
had died, but they brought her back. She was in the
hospital for weeks. She says odd things."
"And 1," Hannah continued as if she had never been
interrupted, "because I am all alone. Here. In this place.
In this . . this time!" She ended triumphantly, though
part of her wondered what she had meant.
"Chaya says she will live," Rivka said to Shifre.
"Wherever else her mind may wander, she has said it.

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