Page 147 - Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

bright flags of clothing, heard Hannah's shout and turned.
She grabbed Hannah's hand, squeezing it until there
was no feeling left.
The car slowed, then stopped. Commandant Breuer
himself got out of the car. He walked toward Reuven
and the child could not look at him, staring instead at
Hannah, his hand outstretched toward her. Big tears
ran down his cheeks, but he Cried without a sound.
"He knows," Hannah whispered.
"Hush!" Rivka said.
The commandant looked down at the boy. "Have
you hurt yourself, my child?" he asked, his voice deadly
soft.
Hannah moved forward a half-step and Rivka jerked
her back.
"Let me see," Breuer said. He took a white hand-
kerchief out of his pocket and touched it to Reuven's
bloody knee thoughtfully. "And where is your mother?"
When Reuven didn't answer, Hannah stepped for-
ward. "Please, sir, his mother is dead."
Rivka gasped. Hannah heard her and added hastily,
"She died years ago, when he was born."
The commandant stood up and stared at her, his eyes
gray and unreadable. "Are you his sister?"
She shook her head dumbly, afraid to say more.
"That is good. For you." Breuer bent down and
wrapped the handkerchief around the boy's knee, knot-
ting it gently with firm, practiced hands. Then he picked
Reuven up. "A boy your age should be with his mother,"
he said, smiling. "So I shall be sure you go to her." He
handed Reuven to his driver, who was waiting by the

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