Suddenly, through a small side window in the attic, I spot some residents
of Głowno breaking into the neighbouring backyard. Councellor Juda
Flamholc rushes in first, knife in hand. I can hear horrible screams and a tinkle
of a shattering pane. The Głowno residents are dragging the people to
the market square! Our house will be next – the thought [20] immediately
rushes through my brain. They will break in here and drag us out to the market
square, dead or alive! I can still hear inhuman screams and cries from the
neighbouring backyard.
– Mama! Don’t take mama! She’s paralysed!
– We won’t suffer because of you! People will be executed because of you!
You need to go! – the Głowno residents scream.
Our house is next… Our house is next… We should not risk it… We need
to go out…
My brother removes his armband and goes downstairs. Are they coming?
– Come what may – he says. – Maybe I’ll manage to sneak out now –
he says.
And he is gone. It is one o’clock. I remove my armband, grab a short
sheepskin coat, and rush downstairs and out into the backyard. Without further
thought, [21] I rush past a band of furious Głowno residents. I walk down
the road. I do not know where I found so much courage. I still do not know
how I endured the piercing glances of the German patrols. Holding my head
high, I walk past all posts. I finally reach the forest. I leave the town, fear
and anxiety behind me. The silent rustle of the forest soothes all my worries.
God, it is spring! Birds are chirping. It is a truly spring day, sunny and
beautiful. I spread the sheepskin coat on the ground and sit down. The merciful
forest soothes all my worries. My brother has probably fled, too. Perhaps
my sister is fine as well… My worries gradually subside… The rustle of the forest
grows monotonous. The song of birds falls more and more silent… I fall
asleep… I wake up after more than an hour. I slowly [22] become aware of
where I am. I am hungry. What should I do? Should I go back to town to find
out what is going on? It can’t be helped. I am more and more hungry. I decide
to go back. I take a shortcut through the forest to go to town. The sky is cloudless.
The heat is oppressive. I reach a road. Suddenly, I hear a strange hum.
Something like moans, shouts, calls… What is it? The road turns where I am
standing, so I cannot see what is happening ahead of me. I speed up. What
is this sound?
