Jacob's Way (4 page)

“We've got to get out of here,” Reisa exclaimed. The stories she'd heard of the horrible things that had befallen Jews caught in a pogrom flashed in her mind. “Come on, Yelena!”

The two girls fled their bedroom and dashed down the stairs. By the time they reached the door, screams of terror filled their ears. “We can't go out there!” Yelena gasped. “They'll kill us!”

“We can't stay here!” Reisa's mind raced, and she grasped the handle of the door and pulled it open. “We can run to the woods and hide.”

The two young women stepped outside, and Reisa saw a mounted cossack ride his horse into a young man. As the force of the blow knocked the man down, Reisa saw that it was Boris Babin, the brother of the bride. She halted and watched helplessly as the young man rolled over in the dust. He came to his feet, his eyes wide with terror. He cried out, “Please—don't kill me!” But the cossack, a huge man with white cross straps over his chest and a black fur shako, lifted his saber, laughed wildly, and brought it down with all his might. Reisa grew sick as the blood spurted from the falling victim. Babin kicked his legs and tried to stem the flow of crimson, but only for a moment, then grew very still.

The cossack spotted the two young women and cried out loudly, “Here we are, comrades! Two young pigeons. I'll take the tall one!”

Reisa was paralyzed with fear as the broad-bodied cossack dismounted in one smooth motion and started toward her. She could not seem to move, but she was aware that other cossacks were coming.

At that moment, Yelena gave her a shove. “Run, Reisa—run!” she cried. She threw herself at the huge cossack, and he grabbed her and began ripping at her clothing.

“Ho, a fighter! So much the better! I like spirit in a woman!”

Reisa knew that Yelena had sacrificed herself to give her a chance. She tore her gaze away from the pair, whirled, and darted down the street. Heavy footsteps were behind her, but she was fleet of foot. As she ran, she was aware of the slaughter that went on all around her. The cossacks spared neither young nor old. She saw a child no more than two years old impaled on the saber of a wildly laughing soldier, and two elderly men wearing prayer shawls were cut down.

Reisa had always been a fast runner, and now she ran with all her strength. The sounds of the heavy boots fell behind her, and she risked turning to see two large cossacks lumbering after her. Seeing her turn, one of them yelled, “You won't get away—you Christ-killing Jew!”

The taunt spurred Reisa, and she took a turn between two rows of houses. The woods lay close by, and she knew if she reached them, she would be safe. Her greatest fear was that men on horseback would chase her. The screams of terror and agony followed her, but as she reached the woods, she saw that she was not being pursued. The cossacks, she knew with a sickening certainty, had plenty of victims without her. She turned east and ran until the sounds of the dying faded, but she knew that everything had changed.

They will come to our village—we must get away!

She walked as fast as she could, and when she reached her house, she fell inside, almost unconscious. Jacob started up, his face filled with fear, and as she fell against him, she cried brokenly, “Grandfather—the soldiers. They have come!”

Jacob grabbed her by the shoulders. “Is it a pogrom?” He listened as she poured out the story, her voice choked with fear.

“We must leave at once, Reisa,” Jacob said evenly. “I must go at once to the mayor.”

Reisa wiped at tears and looked up at her grandfather. “Do you think he can protect us from the soldiers?”

“No, not even he can do that. He is a good man and has love for our people. We have talked of this terrible thing, and he has told me that if we are forced to flee he will buy all that we have—our land and all our possessions.”

Reisa took a deep breath. “But what will we do,
Zaideh?
Where will we go where the soldiers cannot find us?”

“We will go to America. I have thought much about this, and I know we will be safe there. Now, listen to me carefully, Reisa. We must leave right away. The soldiers could come at any time.

I will go at once to the mayor for the money, and I will return with Adrik Meshone. He will take us to the coast in his cart. While I am gone, you must pack for our journey. We will take only a few things, what we can put into the two trunks. All else I will sell to the mayor.”

Reisa pulled herself up and stood straight. “I will have everything ready when you return,
Zaideh.”

“That's my brave girl!” Jacob took her hands and said, “Let us put ourselves into the hands of the merciful God.” He bowed his head and Reisa clung to his hands as he said, “O Master of the Universe, you are our hope in this dark hour. David once fled for his life, and when all earthly hope was gone, he said, ‘But thou, O L
ORD
, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the L
ORD
with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the L
ORD
sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.' O great and almighty God, keep thy servants safe as you kept David safe!”

Reisa looked up and saw the faith in her grandfather's fine eyes. Reaching up, she touched his cheek and whispered, “Salvation belongeth unto the L
ORD
: thy blessing is upon thy people.” She dashed the tears from her eyes, then gave him a gentle push, saying, “Go now, and when you return, all will be ready!”

Three

A
sullen sun sent its dim beams through the single window of the room, and suddenly everything seemed unbearably sad to Reisa. She was alone, for her grandfather was already outside supervising the loading of the trunks onto the small wagon that they had hired to take their luggage to the coast. Reisa had sorted through their possessions hastily, but deciding what to take and what to leave was hard for her. There was a terrible sense of finality about everything, for she was saying farewell to the only life she'd ever known.

Now standing in the room she had lived in all her life, her throat grew thick, and she had to blink to keep the tears away. She ran her gaze around the room. Poor as it was, it was home to her.
I'll never sleep in that bed again—I'll never cook another meal on my stove—I'll never watch my grandfather sit beside the window and read…

“Reisa, we're ready.”

The sound of her grandfather's voice brought Reisa to herself, and she tightened her lips, then turned to leave the tiny house for the last time. Picking up the carrier that held Boris, she stepped outside and found her grandfather standing beside the wagon.

Adrik Meshone, the driver whom they had hired to convey them to the coast, was already in the seat. “You're taking that cat to America?” he demanded.

“Yes.” Reisa could not say another word, and for a moment stood there as if paralyzed.

“It's time to go, my dear,” Jacob said gently.

“I know.” Reisa climbed up into the wagon and sat down holding tightly to the carrier. Jacob followed more slowly, and when he was seated, nodded to the driver. “All right, Adrik.”

The driver spoke to the horses, who leaned forward with a protesting groan. He wheeled the team around, and the hard frozen earth crunched under the rims of the wheels.

When they had gone a short distance, Reisa turned around, holding Boris tightly to her breast. She took one last look at the plain, rather dilapidated house, and her spirit seemed to grow weak. “Good-bye, house,” she whispered, pressing her face against Boris's fur. She could say no more, for the enormity of the undertaking overwhelmed her.

Jacob did not turn back. He set his jaw and said nothing. The two of them sat holding on as the wagon lurched over the uneven, frozen ruts.

Reisa glanced at the two small trunks containing all their earthly possessions, and Jacob caught her eye. “It's sad when you compress all of your life into two small trunks,” he murmured.

Reaching over, Reisa took his hand in both of hers. They were both wearing gloves, for the weather was still freezing, but she squeezed his hand, saying as cheerfully as she could manage, “
Zaideh
, God will be with us.” She looked down at her hands and asked quietly, “What will happen to the others?”

“The word is out, and many are fleeing, as we are,” Jacob said. “Some do not believe the soldiers will come, or they have no place to go, so they stay. We must pray much for our people.”

The wagon rumbled on, through the small village, and then to the outskirts, where the cemetery lay. Jacob called out, “Adrik, stop the horses!”

Startled, Adrik pulled the horses to a halt and turned around. “What?” he demanded, as if he had been insulted.

“Wait here,” Jacob commanded. He stepped down from the wagon seat and reached up, saying, “Come, Reisa.”

Reisa looked surprised, but handed the cat up to Adrik. “Hold him for me, please.”

Rather affronted, Adrik took the cat, and for some reason Boris decided he liked the driver. He looked up and bared his fangs. Adrik laughed hoarsely. “A cat that laughs! I've never seen such a thing!”

Reisa took her grandfather's arm, and the two of them walked to the Jewish graveyard. It was set off from the main part of the cemetery. There were no flowers this time of the year, of course, but in the spring and summer Reisa would bring wildflowers of all kinds to place on the graves of her grandmother and of her parents. The three were buried in a small plot at the outer edge of the graveyard.

Jacob and Reisa halted at the stones. The stone over the grave of Reisa's grandmother was well carved, for her own father had done that before his death. Jacob knelt down. Taking off his gloves, he ran his fingers over the stone. He said nothing, but Reisa knelt beside him. Her eyes went to the two stones that marked the graves of her parents.

“
Zaideh
, will we see them again?” Reisa whispered.

Jacob reached out and put his arm around Reisa's shoulders, drawing her close. “Yes. For does not the patriarch Job say, ‘For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.'”

Jacob's voice suddenly thickened, and Reisa felt his arm tighten around her. She waited for a moment, then when he rose, she reached deep into her pocket. Pulling out a small glass jar and the knife that she always carried, she loosened a little of the dirt on her grandmother's grave and then from each of the graves of her parents. Putting it in the jar, she tightened the lid. Then she looked up. Her eyes were suddenly confident, and she put her arm again around her grandfather. “When we find our place,
Zaideh
,” she said, her voice strong, “we will put this in it. Now, come, we must go.”

The two made their way back to the wagon. After they had climbed in, Jacob said firmly, “All right, Adrik. Take us to the coast.”

“It is a long journey to Odessa—over a hundred miles on rough roads,” Adrik remarked. He shook his head doubtfully. “Isn't there a closer place?”

“No, Adrik,” Jacob said firmly. “Odessa is where the big ships come that go to America. We must go there.”

Adrik shrugged and handed Boris back to Reisa. He lay down at once in her lap, going to sleep instantly. Adrik clucked to the horses, and they set off once again.

Turning toward her, Jacob studied Reisa's face, seeming to see the sorrow there. He suddenly asked, “Where do you suppose your goose is right now?”

Reisa brightened momentarily. She had tended the injured goose until he was strong, and just before the wedding had taken him out of the barn. She had watched as he took to the air, then wheeled and headed south. Now she said, “He's on his way to his new home,
Zaideh
.” She leaned against him, murmuring, “Just as we are.”

The wagon lurched on for some time. As they left a stand of trees and entered an open road, Reisa asked, “Do you have the paper?”

“Oh, yes. Right here.” Jacob removed one glove, put his hand into his pocket, and pulled out a leather wallet. Opening it, he extracted a sheet of paper. “Right here. The name is Laban Gold.”

“Can we find him, do you think?”

“Yes. We will find him.”

Reb Gurion had given them the name of a relative of his who lived somewhere in New York. He did not have the address, but when he had given Jacob the paper he had said, “You can find Gold. He's a good man, and he will help you get started.”

Folding the paper carefully, Jacob inserted it into his wallet, then put the wallet back inside his coat. He sighed, and as he settled himself down, lines appeared in his forehead. He had said nothing to Reisa, but he had been gravely disappointed in the price that he had been able to get for all their things. He was not a businessman—nor ever had been—but now that they were stepping out across a sea to settle in a strange place, he knew that God would have to help him, for he had begun to feel his age. He had never been a strong man physically, but this had never concerned him a great deal. Now, however, he alone was responsible for this young woman who sat beside him and he prayed silently, God,
give me strength to see her settled. Oh, Maker of the Universe, give me strength to see her settled.

Odessa was a busy place, bustling with people rushing from place to place. The journey from their small village had taken a week, and both Jacob and Reisa were exhausted. Now that they had arrived, Jacob tried to feel satisfaction, but he was drained of strength.

“How do you feel,
Zaideh
?
” Reisa asked anxiously.

“Fine, daughter. Fine.”

Adrik looked around and said, “We're here at the dock. What will I do with your trunks?”

Jacob said, “We will go find a place, and then you can go back.” With these words he climbed down out of the wagon, and Reisa accompanied him. It was noon, and the two of them had been worn thin by their journey. Jacob had slept poorly, for the nights had been bitter cold. They had huddled up under all the blankets that they could bring, but it was not like being in their house.

Now as the two looked around noting the confusion, so different from their simple village, Jacob finally said, “We must buy tickets.”

“Yes. Let me ask that officer,” Reisa said.

Reisa approached an imposing-looking man in a uniform of some sort. “Please, sir. Where does one buy tickets to go across the ocean?”

The officer looked down at Reisa. He was a handsome man with a sweeping mustache and twinkling black eyes. “Going to America, are you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, the ticket office is right over there. You see that sign?”

“Yes. Thank you very much.”

“Good voyage.”

Reisa and Jacob made their way to the ticket office, where they waited in a rather long line. There was a babble of voices all around them, and Reisa was aware that most of the potential travelers were as poor as they were.
All leaving for America
, she thought.
We're not alone.

Finally they reached the official who sold tickets and made their purchase. Jacob paled when he heard the price, but there was no alternative. After he paid for the two tickets, the wallet that he put back inside his pocket felt very thin.

“We must buy food,” Reisa said.

“But food is included,” Jacob protested.

“I do not trust them. Come. We will buy things that will not spoil.” She led him to the stores that lined the waterfront and bought cheese, dried beef, and hard bread that would survive the voyage.

Finally, going back to the wagon, they found Adrik holding Boris, who seemed content enough.

“You'll never get on with this cat,” he said. “Animals are forbidden.”

Reisa whispered, “I've got to take Boris!”

“I will take him back to the village with me if you like. I like a cat.”

“No. I can't do that. He must go with us.”

“But, child,” Jacob protested. “It's against the rules.”

“I'm not leaving Boris here.” A stubborn light shone in Reisa's eyes, and her lips grew tight. “Come. I will find a way.”

Indeed, Reisa did find a way. It was not terribly difficult, for the sailor who looked at their tickets paid little attention to the baggage. Adrik carried on first one of their trunks and then the other, but it was Reisa who carried Boris aboard in his carrier. She walked by with her heart beating, and finally they were on board the
Jennings
along with their trunks.

“Here, Adrik. I thank you, my dear brother,” Jacob said as he handed the sturdy peasant three coins.

Adrik took the coins and shoved them into his pocket. “You're going to get in trouble with that cat—but have a good time in America.” He nodded at them and left.

Reisa turned to Jacob. “Grandfather, let me go find where we will stay. You stay with the luggage and with Boris.”

Jacob was tired, and his strength was almost gone. “All right, Reisa. I will wait.”

Finding their place was not difficult, for upon asking one of the sailors where to go, he winked at her and pinched her arm. “Well, a pretty girl like you could stay with me.” He laughed at her angry reaction, then said, “Go down that ladder right over there.”

Reisa left him at once and went below. She found a dark place lit only by several lanterns, and it was already crowded. The smell was terrible, and her heart sank, for there seemed to be no place for a young woman with an old man. But she knew that she had to be strong not only for herself, but for her grandfather as well. He was too weak and too old for this trip, but there was no other way.