HOW MANY MORE JEWS MUST BE FOUND

I

A sunny summer day -
Kapos force Jews of the ghetto into the streets.
They walk in groups towards the main square,
small children and bundles in arms.
Push carts are not allowed.
"I don't trust the Germans.
What will they do with us in the East?
We must hide," Mother says.

We are in the queue.
German soldiers stand smoking, talking.
The hunt won't start
until the captain gives the count
and tells them how many more Jews
must be found.

A delay in loading.
We wait on the sidewalk.
Dad, pushes open a door.
We drop our bundles and rush in
pressing on doors as we climb.
But, they are locked.
On the fifth floor we stand cursing.
Mother points to a small opening.
"The attic is up there," Dad says.
"Bring over the bedspring so that we can climb."
Then father pushes the bedspring away
which tumbles miraculously down the stairs.
The attic is very low. I, a five-year-old, must crawl.
Dust is inches thick. Soon
we are completely covered with it.
I find this amusing and say, "I am a ghost.
If the Germans come, I will scare them away."

All afternoon sunlight streams in
through a round small window overlooking the square.
I watch dust sparkle as it floats in the air.
The loading has stopped.

I hear shots.
Two soldiers search. One lifts the other to look.
We hear him say, "No Jews up there."

II

Herr Eichmann reads the report;
Radom ghetto liquidated.
He writes a brief note to its author, Herr Schmidt,
and calls for his car to take him home.

     - Bernard Otterman