The Debt of Tamar Read Online Free PDF Page A

fingers. He had chiseled features and a sharp, pointed chin. His long, ebony hair fell forward masking much of his face from view. He was one of hundreds of crypto Jews in the resistance network.
    “We’ve been tracking your escape,” the man said as he pulled up a bar stool.
    José looked up incredulously.
    “You seem surprised.”
    “I don’t understand. How did you even…”
    “Your aunt has been funding the underground movement for some time.”
    “My aunt? But—”
    “Her continued involvement has been a key component to our operations. Naturally, we’ve kept an eye on her.”
    “I never suspected…” his voice trailed off.
    “She hid it well from both you and Reyna.”
    José’ furrowed his brow but said nothing.
    “You mustn’t be upset. The less you knew, the safer you were. The safer we all were.”
    “What happens now?”
    “Her cover’s been blown. They’re most likely interrogating her at this very moment.”
    “What sort of interrogation?”
    “We believe she can withstand the pressure.”
    “Pressure?”
    “José, our people are loyal. The last time one of our men was caught, he chewed off his own tongue, so afraid he was he might name names…”
    “My G-d,” José gasped.
    “You have to understand, your aunt’s whole life has been dedicated to the cause.”
    José blinked back tears. “Why did she stay? Why not carry on with the mission from a distance, somewhere safe! Somewhere where they couldn’t reach her?”
    “She stayed for them.”
    “Them?”
    “The others. The ones without means. She used her money to fund the movement, to bribe officials and district authorities to release prisoners and turn a blind eye at the border. We tried often to get her to leave but she was so stubborn. She was convinced her efforts wouldn’t be as effective if she wasn’t on the ground overseeing things.”
    “Were there many?”
    “Many?”
    “Victims. Escapees. Whatever you call them.”
    “I stopped counting long ago.”
    “All this time…” José’s voice trailed off.
    “I believe she would have stayed in Portugal if she could, but she was forced out. A marriage between the prince and Reyna would have allotted the royal family control over your family’s wealth. It would have been impossible for the mission to continue.”
    “What do we do now?” José asked. Life as a fugitive was taking its toll. He hadn’t slept in days. Tormented by visions of his aunt being tortured in ways he could not imagine, in the dungeons of a prison he did not know, for the first time in his life he felt completely helpless.
    The Spaniard withdrew a weathered map from his satchel, unfolded it and placed it before José. He tapped his finger on a narrow strip of land nestled between the Black sea and the Aegean.
    “That’s where you’re to go, Istanbul. The capital city of the Ottoman Empire.”
    “Istanbul? But why?”
    “Because there you will be free. Free to practice your religion and free to plan your aunt’s rescue. We have an agent there waiting. He and your aunt had been working together to bring the refugees out of Iberia. I’m told he has strong ties to the Sultan.”
    “You’re told ? Do you mean to say you’ve never met this man? What if it’s a trap?”
    “You’ll have to trust me.”
    José scoffed. “I haven’t much of a choice, do I?”
    “You have no choice.”
    “My aunt is imprisoned here. I can’t just leave.” He shook his head in disbelief. “No, I won’t. We won’t….not until we’re all together again.”
    “You’re not safe here.” He lowered his raspy voice to a whisper. “Get out now.”
    “But my aunt—”
    “The Sultan is your only hope.” The Spaniard’s eyes darted around the room.
    “We can’t just leave her—”
    “Think of the girl. You are her guardian now. They’ll have the two of you strung up in quarters if you’re caught. Listen carefully. Disguise yourselves. Board the ferry at sunrise. You’ll keep your mouth shut