We continued on our way without mishap and arrived about an hour ahead of the train. From within the woods we could see the tracks. Maxie and Karl prepared the explosives and went to set them in place; we fanned out, poised to attack.
I was glad Isidor and I were together again. Although he works wonders in his weekly prayers, Isidor is utterly free of arrogance or condescension. His prayers inspire awe but not gratitude. I sometimes think people are afraid of them. After praying, he lights a cigarette, withdraws, and leans against a tree. I’ve often heard it said, What is the nature of his prayer? Should it be considered prayer at all?
The train arrived at precisely 2:00 a.m. The explosives were detonated, and the earth shook. Two cars were derailed and the guards, when they regained their senses, began shooting. We were ready, and our fire was better aimed than theirs; within minutes we finished them off.
People began to emerge from the open cars, and we approached them. Many dead bodies lay on the ground or in the cars. We went from car to car to see if anyone else was still alive. The operation took no longer than half an hour, but it seemed like forever.
This time there were dozens of survivors, not just twenty-eight. We asked each young survivor to assist an old person or a child. Each fighter took responsibility for two or three people. Karl led with the sick and wounded, and Kamil assisted those who could plod along on their own. Salo and Maxie went from group to group, tending to the wounded. An old man I helped to walk murmured a blessing: “You are an angel from heaven.”
The procession came to a halt before dawn, and Kamil announced, his voice shaking, “We have covered a lot of ground, and now the fighters will hand out sweets. There are tents and food at the camp; we will eat and rest when we get there.” Kamil, who knows how to talk and instill faith, spoke in practical terms this time. He described our situation in the forest and the weapons we collected for self-defense. Finally, he said, “Dear brothers, thank God we are now able to help others. Worthless thugs deprived us of help and love. From now on we will support one another, advancing slowly, the weak and wounded going first. And if we hear shots, we will lie down on the ground and not raise our heads.”
The German officer we had left on our way to the tracks saw us and was sure he was done for. He raised his hands and said, “It appears I will not live.” Karl promised that if he behaved properly, obeyed orders, and told us everything he knew, we would take that into account and reduce his punishment.
The officer revealed at once that he had been in a special unit that, among other things, executed Jews. He remembered the names of the villages and forests where they were murdered.
“And you weren’t afraid to kill women and children?”
“That was the order.”
“I didn’t ask you about the order. I asked if you were afraid,” said Kamil, raising his voice.
“When you obey an order, you are not afraid.”
“Are you afraid now?”
“Yes.”
“What were you looking for here?”
“The shortest and best route, from a military standpoint, to reach the places where the Jews are entrenched. A hostile patrol discovered us, and we had to retreat.”
“Don’t say ‘hostile patrol.’ Say ‘Jewish patrol.’ ”
“It’s hard for me to say that,” he said without looking up.
For this he was slapped.