Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 95 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.

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Continuation of the contract signed between the representatives of the residents of Samson Lager and the unofficial representatives of the Austrian government:

The validity of the contract is twenty-five years, until September 2019. Until that date, all those involved are bound by the obligation to maintain secrecy, without exception.

“It’s unbelievable,” Elky said as she sat on the couch in Dena’s house. Naomi and Dena were clearing the table after shalosh seudos. “Two thousand and nineteen! In the twenty-first century! Taf shin ayin tes. Do you even realize how far into the future that is?”

“A little less than twenty-five years away,” Naomi said as she brushed the crumbs off the pristine white tablecloth. “It’s really a lot. And until then, we are all supposed to somehow integrate into Jewish communities around the world—and to be quiet about what we went through!”

“It’s going to be very complicated.” Elky put her son down on the floor, and he quickly crawled into the other room. She stood up. “We’re b’ezras Hashem making aliyah next week to Eretz Yisrael. Our whole family bought a few beautiful apartments in a neighborhood called Bayit Vegan, in Yerushalayim. What are we going to tell the people there? Who are we, where did we come from?”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 94 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. 

An excerpt from the contract signed between the representatives of the residents of Samson Lager and unofficial representatives of the Austrian government:

…All those who have left the camp, of every age, commit to maintaining absolute silence regarding their lives as experienced since the end of the war, or from their birth, until they left the camp grounds.

In addition, each individual who was at the camp for more than a year, but less than ten years, will be compensated with fifty thousand U.S. dollars. Every individual who was in the camp for more than ten years will receive five hundred thousand U.S. dollars.

Being that on the day of the departure from the camp, two civilians were killed, and there was no prosecution in a legal court for this crime, a complaint was received by the Salzburg police. According to what is agreed above, the case will be closed, and the suspects in this matter will not be prosecuted. As noted, this is on condition that the silence regarding Samson Lager is maintained.

Aside for this, those who left the camp will be given Austrian citizenship, which will go into effect without a waiting period.

Anyone who transgresses the secrecy agreement before the expiration date of this contract will be liable, based on his signature of the contract, for heavy fines, as stipulated henceforth…

“They clearly said it’s going to be a lawsuit for huge sums of money,” Rechel said as she and her friend Ruchelle swept the floor of the preschool after the day’s sessions had ended. The preschool was one of the few elements functioning in a way that was reminiscent of their previous lives, after a number of parents had reached out to Naomi and asked her to continue occupying their children in the mornings here in the guesthouse as well.

The conference hall that had been allocated for the preschool to use was spacious and beautiful. Both the children and their parents had been stunned by the elegant furnishings, and they warmly thanked Mrs. Domb, the proprietor of the place.

“So of course we’ll be quiet, somehow,” Shifra Cohen-Sighet said.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 93 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. 

Initial Report – Death Investigation

Hour: 5:07 a.m.

Location: Marker E-65

Fatalities: 1. Female – Katarina Wangel

                  2. Female – Teresa Wangel

Cause of Death: Rollover of prisoner vehicle

Submitted for further investigation

Joachim Klug, Police Investigator, Main Precinct, Salzburg

Police ribbons encircled the manor house, barring entry. But no one from the camp was even looking in that direction anyway. In shul, they had long finished davening Shacharis, and were almost done packing the sefarim. Reb Mottel Kush took the sefer Torah under his responsibility. In the preschool, the children were taking their crafts off the walls, and Naomi and Rivku were scanning the room for a final time. The adults made sure to feed the animals and milk the sheep before they would be handed over to the authorities, and in the cemetery, people gathered to bid farewell and to say Kaddish one last time before they left.

They also went into the factory and divided the valuable equipment and the furs that remained there amongst each other. From the bakery came the aroma of the bread they would take with them for the way, and in the public kitchen, the women were scrubbing the cooking utensils and packing them quickly. Maybe they would need these large utensils to cook in the place where they were going.

Only Sol Sherer was still dragging his feet around the camp’s paths, and not responding to anyone aside for “yes” or “no” answers.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 92 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 stained piece of paper on the floor of the car, written in shaky, uneven letters:

We had a backup plan to leave Austria.

We didn’t believe it would ever happen.

Their fear was supposed to be much stronger.

Bernard’s newspaper did a big part of the work. And he did all these experiments to figure out how best to influence and control the Jews: We invited them to our parties, allowed them to make weddings in our manor house…all with that goal in mind.

Leo also helped us a lot with controlling the Jews, without him even knowing it.

And I thought that Sol would be a good replacement.

But now it’s all over.

They discovered the tru—

“Looks like this is where his strength ran out.” The police commissioner pointed to the last line and handed the paper over to Hans. “So, does it still look staged to you?”

“No,” his deputy said, glancing out the window of the stately room at the car standing outside. “Not at all. So I understand that he’s dead. Where are the others?”

Dick Zuerstach, the mayor of Salzburg, shook his head. “Another male, about age thirty, was killed. Based on our impressions, he is Bernard Wangel, Josef’s son. We also found two women locked into one of the huts here.”

Locked? Crazy people! Why hadn’t they left when they realized that everything was unraveling? They had too much self-confidence, those Wangels. But he wasn’t going to fall with them, as Katarina had warned him in that final fax. No. He was smarter than them.

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.

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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.

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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.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 87 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. 

Beretta / 93R

On a stack of rusting rifles in the first box lay a wooden box on a slant, and this was what was etched into it. Binyamin opened the cover and looked at the metal object there. What a shame he’d never had a real opportunity to examine this thing from up close. Maybe he’d had an opportunity, but not a real one.

A few years ago, which now felt like at least a thousand years, he had been a young fourteen-year-old boy who had successfully finished his studies in the preschool, and had also been through his stint working at the kennels. Finally, he’d reached his training period at the factory. The job he’d been assigned was errand boy for Max Sherer, who worked sewing the furs and finishing them. Binyamin had mainly made him tea and searched for his needles that kept falling on the floor. He’d also watched and asked questions, and when Max was in a good mood, he’d allowed the young Binyamin to practice on some damaged bits of fur.

Then, one day, when Max didn’t come and the other worker was busy on the other side of the factory, Binyamin had—of his own accord—sat down at the corner table, picked up a needle, and began to work. Miraculously, his gamble paid off, and on that day, Leo Sherer and Josef Wangel came for an inspection—and were impressed at the outcome of the boy’s efforts, despite his never having had any professional training.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 86 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. 

Visiting hours for the public at the shivah house:

Morning between 6:00 and 7:00 am

Afternoon between 2:00 and 3:00 pm

Evening between 8:00 and 8:45 pm

It was only 6:30 in the evening, but Naomi ignored the sign on the door and knocked. It was the first time she’d ever knocked at this door—or had even approached it. It was the first time she was seeing the unusual door handle—an elongated tube made of gold-colored metal that was cool and smooth to the touch—which was very different from the round wooden knobs that the rest of them had on the doors of their little houses.

Did it make the Sherer family happy that this knob adorned the door of their home, or was the point just to indicate that their status was different from that of the other residents of this place? Naomi didn’t have time to think about that, because just then the door opened, and Eva stood there, staring at her. After a moment she said, “Yes?”

“Eva…” Naomi said. “I will come later in the evening to be menachem avel. But right now, I need to speak urgently with Suzy. Is that possible?”

“Yes,” Eva said and walked back into the house.

A moment later, Suzy came to the door. She blinked when she saw Naomi but then recovered quickly. “Is Dror okay?” she asked.