Mila 18 - Leon Uris [225]
“Don’t keep Dr. Koenig waiting, Alex,” Simon said. “I’m sure you have an answer for him.”
Alexander Brandel stood up face to face with Franz Koenig. He expectorated a large wad of spit which landed on Franz Koenig’s nose and dribbled down the German’s lips and chin.
“Get out,” Simon hissed.
Samson Ben Horin jumped down from the window sill and cocked his pistol. “Let’s give the Germans a real answer.”
“No,” Rabbi Solomon said. “He has entered our house under truce. We are bound to protect him.”
“Rabbi! This is Pharaoh! The blood of Jewish slaves is on his hands. His fat pockets bulge with gold from Jewish sweat.”
“No, Samson,” the rabbi admonished softly. “As elder of this community, I will not permit it.”
Samson jammed the barrel against Koenig’s temple and snarled. Neither Andrei nor Simon nor Rodel cared to stop him.
“Only one side in this war is the Nazis’. Let this miserable cur crawl out of here with the memory of honorable men engraved on his wretched soul living in fear of the moment the wrath of God will avenge us!” Solomon said.
Simon heaved a sigh and grasped the gun barrel and lowered it from Koenig’s temple. “Let him go,” he said.
Samson Ben Horin whirled around and smashed the wall with his fist.
“Get out before I change my mind,” Simon said to Koenig.
Franz Koenig bolted out of the room, tripped and tumbled from his awkward fat, and crawled halfway down the corridor in a panic to escape. He ran out into the street, waving the white flag.
“Truce! Truce! Truce!”
Andrei put his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Nu, how does it feel to be a man of violence?”
“Not bad, Andrei. Not bad at all.”
“A week,” Simon whispered. “Let us hold for just one week.”
Chapter Ten
Journal Entry
FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH of March the Germans have made a frantic effort to lure Jews into the open. The Gestapo has initiated a “visa” scheme designed to make “foreigners” register at the Polonia Hotel. The unwritten understanding is that Jews in hiding will be given passage to Sweden if they can purchase their freedom.
The Gestapo has gone to extraordinary lengths to make the visa selling appear legitimate. A fake Red Cross unit is at the Polonia to administrate the plan. (Note: Fake Red Cross establishments have been used again and again by the Germans throughout Europe to bait escaped prisoners of war and others in hiding. They also use fake undergrounds with collaborators operating them.)
Apparently they are allowing a few of the visa purchasers to reach Sweden to “prove” to the others that this is the real thing.
We were astonished to learn that David Zemba has put so much credence in the visa scheme that he has come out of hiding and is actually at the Polonia Hotel for the purpose of contacting world Jewry to get money to buy visas. Visas go at from ten to twenty thousand zlotys each.
We are certain it is an over-all scheme to lure us into complete complacency. The leopard does not change his spots. We are even more sure the visa scheme is a fraud and that most of those who register will end up in Treblinka.
Strange that a man with the experience of David Zemba could be duped so easily. I suppose the desperation is so great that people are ready to fool even themselves with a slim hope there may be a thread of truth.
Consistent with the German “peace” offensive, we have not had an overt act against the ghetto in two and a half months. There is still electricity in many areas and tap water is available. Food deliveries continue to the factories, although the factories no longer are productive. Smuggling goes on with comparative ease. Moritz Katz has built a “Quartermaster Corps” with a dozen former smugglers.
They have stocked enough food for a two-week supply for the Fighters and our immediate dependents. We store water for drinking purposes