Between Shades of Gray Read Online Free PDF Page B

us.”
    “Shh...,” said Papa. “I can’t. You shouldn’t be here. Where is your mother?”
    “In the car,” I said, happy yet horrified to see my father’s bludgeoned face. “Are you all right?”
    “I’m okay,” he said. “Are you okay? Is your mother okay?”
    “We’re okay,” I said.
    “She doesn’t know we’re here,” said Jonas. “We wanted to find you. Papa, they broke into our house and—”
    “I know. They’re attaching our train to yours.”
    “Where are they taking us?” I asked.
    “To Siberia, I think.”
    Siberia? That couldn’t be right. Siberia was half a world away. There was nothing in Siberia. I heard Papa talking inside the train car. His arm came out of the hole holding some scrunched-up material.
    “Take this jacket and these socks. You’ll need them.” More noise came from inside. Papa handed out another jacket, two shirts, and more socks. He then handed down a large piece of ham.
    “Children, split this. Eat it,” Papa said.
    I hesitated and stared at the ham my father handed through the same hole people used as a toilet.
    “Put it in your mouths right now!” he said.
    I tore the thick piece of ham in quarters and handed some to Jonas and Andrius. I put the last piece in my dress pocket for Mother.
    “Lina, take this and give it to your mother. Tell her it’s okay to sell it, if she has to.” Papa’s hand came down to me, holding his gold wedding band. I stared at it.
    “Lina, do you understand? Tell her it’s in case she needs money.”
    I wanted to tell him we had already traded a pocket watch for Jonas. I nodded and put the ring on my thumb, not able to swallow the ham past the lump in my throat.
    “Sir,” said Andrius, “is Petras Arvydas in your car?”
    “I’m sorry, son, he’s not,” said Papa. “This is very dangerous. You must all get back to your train.”
    I nodded.
    “Jonas.”
    “Yes, Papa?” Jonas said, peering up at the hole.
    “You’re very brave to have come. You must all stay together. I know you’ll take good care of your sister and mother while I am away.”
    “I will, Papa, I promise,” said Jonas. “When will we see you?”
    Papa paused. “I don’t know. Hopefully soon.”
    I clutched the bundle of clothes. Tears began dropping down my cheeks.
    “Don’t cry, Lina. Courage,” said Papa. “You can help me.”
    I looked up at him.
    “Do you understand?” My father looked at Andrius, hesitant. “You can help me find you,” he whispered. “I’ll know it’s you ... just like you know Munch. But you must be very careful.”
    “But,” I started, uncertain.
    “I love you both. Tell your mother I love her. Tell her to think of the oak tree. Say your prayers, children, and I will hear them. Pray for Lithuania. Now run back. Hurry!”
    My chest hurt and my eyes burned. I started to walk but stumbled.
    Andrius caught me. “Are you okay?” he asked. His face looked soft, concerned.
    “I’m fine,” I said, quickly wiping my eyes and pulling free of his grasp. “Let’s go find your father.”
    “No, you heard him. Hurry, run back. Tell your mother what he said.”
    “But what about your father?” I asked.
    “I’m going to try a few more. I’ll meet you back at our car,” he said. “Just go, Lina. You’re wasting time.”
    I hesitated.
    “Are you scared to go alone?”
    “No! I’m not scared,” I said. “My father said we should stay together, but we’ll go by ourselves.” I snatched Jonas by the hand. “We don’t need him, right, Jonas?”
    Jonas stumbled, looking over his shoulder at Andrius.

12
    “HALT!” a voice commanded.
    We were so close, nearly under our train car. NKVD boots marched toward us. I tucked my thumb and Papa’s wedding band into my palm.
    “Davai!” the voice yelled.
    Jonas and I crept out from under the car.
    “Lina! Jonas!” yelled Mother, leaning out of the train.
    The officer pointed his gun at Mother, signaling for her to be quiet. He then circled around us, his boots