The Children’s Train

Eva led the children toward the barracks. Several police guards were gathering people for the death march. “Line up. The camp is being evacuated. Anyone refusing will be killed!” a policeman by the barracks ordered.

She motioned to the other children, and they changed direction. “Go quickly. We will hide in Kanada,” she said quietly. She ran into the warehouse, followed by all the other children whose new acts of defiance made them shake with fear.

The children hid, squeezed behind the huge mountain of suitcases at the warehouse. Ramona opened the door. She saw Eva pull the smallest child back behind the suitcases.

A Nazi officer entered right behind Ramona with a gun pointed at her head. “We will march them all out of here. No one is to be left if they can walk. I need all inmates outside immediately,” he said.

Ramona hesitated, and then nodded.

“That means you.”

“Me?” Ramona asked.

“You didn’t really think you would be spared, did you? All clear in here?”

Ramona hesitated. “All clear,” she lied. Only when she was faced with her own death did she finally take an action on the side of her people.