Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 91 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Shabbos dress – Shabbos tichel – kettle – gas burner – prescription cream – laundry detergent

Naomi raised her eyes from her list when Aryeh walked into the house. “Do you think we should take more than one box of laundry detergent with us?” she asked practically. “And what will be with my basin? They said it’s not a good idea to take too much luggage.”

“Don’t take the basin,” he said, and sat down next to the large quilt cover into which Naomi was putting everything. “I’m sure we will manage. Maybe there are public washing machines there, where you can pay and use them.”

She nodded, wondering about the unknown “there.” “But I don’t want to get stuck without detergent, and the store is for sure closed. Tell me, what’s with your finger?”

“That scrape? It’s getting better, slowly. Baruch Hashem.”

“Because the cream that Dr. Katzburg gave you is almost finished. I think I should go and ask her for a bit more. After all, she won’t be schlepping all the medical equipment along, right?”

“Makes sense.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 90 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

A few lines written in blue ink on the foundation beam on the back wall of one of the huts:

May 26, 1945

We are a group of Jews who were brought here to establish a military and economic hideout for Wehrmacht soldiers, in the event that the Reich collapses. From here, Wehrmacht brigades will set out for guerilla battles against the Allies if they will capture Austria and the region. Those in charge of us are Major Ludwig Heidrich and Major Klaus Wangel, who were under the command of Lieutenant Samson Plavel. He was killed in battles outside, and now the two Majors are directly in charge of us. We are building huts to live in, and a factory for processing furs, managed by the brothers Max and Leo Sherer. They are also fixing and building the old wall and renovating the old manor house.

There is much work to be done, and it is hard, while the food is meager, but we are being treated fairly. But if we do not remain alive, if we do not survive the war—then please, take revenge for us!

Iszak Zuretzky, hiding in the small space on the sloping ground beneath the hut, ran his finger over the words. He didn’t have the patience to try reading them, and he sufficed with the beginning and the end of the inscription. Somewhere outside, he could still hear Bernard hollering as he slowly made his way behind the huts to find him, and Iszak feared that he was coming closer. “Please, take revenge for us,” he murmured, and clasped his arms around his head.

Was there a chance that Bernard would not find him? Not really. Bernard was in such a furious state that he was not even going to help his father. He just wanted to take revenge on whoever had tripped him—in other words, Iszak. Too bad Iszak didn’t have another long branch there to trip up that cursed Nazi again.

But at least he had held him back from killing Binyamin!

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 89 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Urgent message faxed to Vienna:

Hans,

Big Samson is going to fall, because its enemies have obtained weapons. If you don’t send help immediately—you will fall together with it!

—Katarina

“One minute, Teresa!” Katarina’s lips were pursed tightly. “Don’t go out yet.”

“Why, so that the lunch that Chani prepared for us shouldn’t get cold? It is rather a shame about it.”

“When did you last check your gun?”

“A few minutes ago.” The young woman studied her weapon. “It’s fine, but it really is a relic. You couldn’t arrange something better for me, huh? I mean, look where we are now!”

“Don’t be cheeky,” Katarina said. “Helena? Are you ready to go out, or are you also dreaming now about a delicious meal?”

Her second daughter turned slowly away from the window. “To go out where? To help Father?”

“What else?”

“I don’t think there’s any point,” she said with a long sigh, but still, she picked up her gun from the table.

“Why not?”

“Because if whoever it was stole Bernard’s good gun, then we have no chance against him.”

“But Bernard has my gun now. And aside for that, the Jew doesn’t know how to shoot,” her mother noted coldly.

“It’s not something you have to know how to do.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 88 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

I wanted to ask forgiveness, Binyamin. I saw in the note that you put in the pocket of Mrs. Einhorn’s uniform that you were angry at your sister. I also heard that she and your mother were saying that you think your sister went to Leo Sherer to tell him about your secret group that meets at night, and that you want to do dangerous things.

So you should know that it was me who hid behind a stone and overheard you speaking, and I went to Leo and told him everything. He never liked me because I “don’t do anything productive,” and also because I sometimes walk around at night even though it’s not allowed. I wanted him to know that I am sometimes productive, and it’s davka because I walk around at night when I can’t sleep.

Now everyone is searching for you to punish you. They’re saying it’s because you spoke on a radio to someone—I don’t really understand what that’s about, but I think that it also has to do with what I did wrong.

I don’t know where to find you to give you this note, and so I’m just saying I’m sorry again for now. And if I can help you in any way, I will. Because you should know that I think you’re a real hero, and I hope that I can be a hero like you.

Iszak Zuretzky

The paper, featuring a few yellow stains from egg yolk, was resting next to his plate. Iszak’s mother had prepared his breakfast before she left to her daily job at the dairy. As he sat sipping his tea, his left knee jumped with agitation. He had no appetite.

His head shot up in surprise when he heard noise behind their little hut. Who was screaming like that? It sounded like Hauptmann Josef’s voice. The youth stood up and carefully peeked out the window. Oh my, what was going on? The Nazi was running after a figure in the distance, toward the kennels and the cemetery, and he was waving a pistol. Oh, no, if he looked in the direction of their window, by any chance, would he shoot because he was so angry right now?! Iszak huddled fearfully below the window, and after a moment, when the Nazi’s voice grew more distant, he carefully straightened up.

He then decisively folded the sheet of paper and went outside, hurrying behind the house. He narrowed his gaze; a few people were also hurrying in the direction that the other two had been running, but they stopped some distance away. What was going on there? Had Wangel killed Binyamin? Iszak stood, fearfully, and then sat down on the ground. What would be if he didn’t have a chance to apologize to Binyamin? It would be very sad.