Upfall

"Wait here" Jezek told Tovi, who in the meantime had been joined by the second youth, and the man who had helped them in the car. Jezek rolled out from under the car, and rose up to a crouch, hugging the railcar. Far down the track he made out the forms of what appeared to be soldiers, although he couldn't be sure. They didn't look German. He shuffled forward. Tovi came out after him—the boy had no reason to take orders, J ezek realized. They continued together down the track.

Along the way, several other Jews came out from under the train and followed them. Several cars down they passed the bullet riddled body of policeman Bieber. His rifle still lay by his side, but Jezek left it there. Another man picked it up.

Nearer the front of the train Jezek paused and examined the men standing near the front of the train. One looked back at him, and turned away. The men were indeed soldiers of some kind, but not like any he'd ever seen. Their uniforms were brownish green, and bulky.

They didn't carry ordinary weapons. On their heads, instead of helmets, they wore a floppy camouflaged cloth. But most importantly they completely ignored him and the other Jews creeping along the train.

Jezek stood up. For the first time he noticed that five dead German soldiers lay at the soldiers‘ feet. One of the soldiers looked back at him curiously. The soldier motioned for him to come over.

Jezek glanced behind him and saw that he'd been followed by more than a dozen men and boys and at least one woman. Instinctively he straightened his filthy jacket and walked over to the soldier.

"Sprechen Sie Deutsch?” asked Sergeant Bolander. Bolander" most of the other commandos knew a fair bit of German from occasional training with German special forces units.

"Ja. Wer sind Sie?”

Bolander paused, uncertain as to what he should say. He called over Shapira, who's German was nearly fluent. The lieutenant climbed down from the passenger car and jogged over. "He asked who we are" said Bolander.

Shapira looked at the man, who though filthy and obviously exhausted stood straight, attempting to project a degree of pride. "We are friends" said Shapira in German. "Wait here" he said, pointing to the growing gathering behind Jezek.

"We need water. Our families are trapped in the railcars" said Jezek quickly and excitedly.

Shapira didn't understand the whole sentence—he needed to adjust—but got the gist. He looked up to Yatom who stood at the doorway to railcar while Nir led the bloody, groggy, and bound Sergeant Mueller down the steps.

"Colonel" said Shapira in Hebrew "we need to do something for these people. We have to let them out of the railcars—they need water." But Yatom didn‘t seem to hear him and stalked off toward Feldhandler who stood by the locomotive.

Jezek, however had heard Shapira, and to his utter shock recognized the language. "Sie sprechen Hebraeisch! " he said, first to Shapira, then repeating himself to the folks behind him in case they missed it.

"Wait here please" Shapira told Jezek, switching back to German.

He started to walk away toward Yatom, then paused and handed one of his canteens to the man. J ezek took it gratefully and drank several deep swallows, and resisting his own thirst, passed it back to Tovi. The boy was immediately set upon by the others who began fighting for the water. Bolander and the other soldiers stepped in offering their canteens too, trying to calm the growing crowd. Shapira turned his back on the commotion, seeking out Yatom, who was speaking urgently to Feldhandler.

"Did you consider how to handle this situation..." Yatom was saying angrily.

"I did, Colonel, but at the time you didn't want to listen" said Feldhandler.

"We need to get these people off the train" said Shapira. Yatom turned to Shapira. "Agreed" said Yatom. "Ron, open the doors and get those people out. Tell that tall man over there" he said, pointing at Jezek "about the stream. They seem to need water more than anything. Have him and other Jews from the train organize themselves. They are going to have to fend for themselves anyway."

Shapira ran back towards Jezek, who was now arguing with the gaggle of people behind him about the water. Shapira pulled Jezek by the shoulder.

"Wie heissen Sie?" Shapira asked Jezek.

"My name is Abraham Jezek, from Prague."

"I am Lieutenant Shapira. Listen to me carefully" he continued, his German improving with each word. "Open the train doors and let your people out. There is a stream half a kilometer from here in that direction." Shapira pointed to the other side of the train. Take your people there. Once you have done that, you return to me. Bring some other people that you think can help lead your group." Jezek nodded. ”Danke! " he said, then paused. "Can I ask why you are speaking Hebrew?"