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Suddenly Walter was there, his breath fogging the air and his smile wide.“You came.”
Jan nodded, grinning.“Of course I did.You ready?”
Walter’s nose was red, his freckled cheeks pale in the dull light.“As I’ll ever be.”
“Let’s go.”
They agreed on a system of communication that wouldn’t give them away as they tiptoed between buildings and ran along alleyways back to the square.There was still some activity around the market as traders packed their things away from the day’s work and furtive late-night shoppers searched the remaining stalls for wares that had already been picked over by a day filled with hungry customers.
Jan and Walter slowed their headlong pace as they drew close to the wall.Jan scanned the area, looking for the glow of a cigarette butt or the glint of light on a rifle from a streetlamp.There didn’t appear to be guards in the square, but he knew it would only be a matter of time until the patrol returned.He’d already scoped out the wall and found a location where the workers had used only barbed wire, no brick, for the wall on Krochmalna Street.
He scurried to the fence and ducked low.Walter followed him and used both hands to pull the wire apart.Jan climbed through, careful not to stick himself on the jagged barbs.Then he held the wire open for Walter.As soon as they were through, the boys launched themselves into the space between two apartment buildings.They pressed against the cold brick walls, puffing hard from nervous excitement.
Jan couldn’t believe it.They were through, and no one had seen them.It was exhilarating.He flashed a smile at Walter, who offered a mock salute.Then Walter was gone.They’d already agreed—he would go to see his family, then return to the fence in one hour.Jan would do the same, only he would visit the Wierzbickas.He couldn’t wait to see the looks on their faces when they opened the door to find him standing on their doorstep.He jogged away into the gloom of the eerily quiet ghetto.
At first Antonistood gaping at Jan, eyes wide.Then he pulled the boy into an embrace.Their first.Antoni wasn’t one for physical displays of affection, but there were tears in his eyes when he tugged Jan into the apartment, scanned the street worriedly and shut the door behind them.
“Look who’s here!”he called quietly into the living room.
The entire family ran to greet him, exclaiming in hushed voices over the sight of him, how well he looked, how long it’d been since they’d last seen him.It had only been four weeks, but he agreed that it seemed like a lifetime.Their world had changed so much in the time since they’d all gathered together that last time.
Finally, they let Jan sit in Papa’s armchair and crowded around him.
“How did you get through?”asked Berek, Antoni’s brother, his brown eyes wide with anxiety.
“Walter Cykiert was stuck living on the Aryan side of the wall.He wanted to see his family, so I agreed to come with him.And here I am.”Jan laughed.“It was easier than I thought it’d be.”
“No one saw you?”Antoni glanced up at the front door, as if expectingWehrmachtsoldiers to burst through at any moment.
“No one saw me.We went through the barbed wire in the square where people were milling about.It’s even busier during the daytime hours.I bet we could manage it then as well.”
Antoni paced to the other side of the living room, rubbing his stubbled chin.“Do you think you could bring some supplies with you next time?”
Jan frowned.“Are you running low?”
“Everyone is,” burst out Fela, Berek’s daughter.“We get one meal per day.”
“And a small one at that,” agreed Nathan, patting his slender stomach.
“There is no medicine, either,” added Babcia with a mournful expression.“But I don’t want you to risk your life.They are serious about the punishment.They will shoot you.I’ve seen…” Her voice tapered off.
“I don’t mind,” replied Jan.“It was fun and easy too.”
“You’ll need this,” said Antoni, removing his armband and securing it around Jan’s arm.“Don’t move about the ghetto without it.They’ll think you’re one of us.”
Jan patted the band, adjusting it so that the blue star showed clearly.“Thanks.I’d better go home or Mama will worry, but I’ll be back as soon as I can make it.And I’ll bring something with me.I’m sure Mama will be able to find what you need if you give me a list.”
