Page 153 - Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

cause of it, as if everyone knew that as long as others
were processed, they would not be. A simple bit of
mathematics, like subtraction, where one taken away
from the top line becomes one added on to the bottom.
The Devil's arithmetic.
"When?" she whispered at night to Gitl.
"You will know," Gitl always answered. "You will
know."

And yet, when it finally happened, Hannah was sur-
prised that she hadn't known, hadn't even suspected.
There had been no signs or portents, no secret signals.
Just an ordinary day in the camp and at night she went
to bed on the hard, coverless shelf trying to remember
sheets and pillows and quilts while all around her in the
black barrack she heard the breathy sounds of sleeping
women.
A hand on her back and over her mouth startled her
so, she was too surprised to protest.
"Chaya, it is now," Gitl's voice whispered in her ear.
"Nod if you understand."
She nodded, opening her eyes wide though it was too
dark to see anything. "The plan," she said, her words
hot on Gitl's palm. She sat up abruptly and just missed
smacking her head on the upper shelf.
Gitl took her hand away. "Follow me," she whis-
pered.
"Am I part of the plan?"
"Of course, child. Did you think we would leave you
in this hell?"
They crept to the door and Hannah could feel her

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