Free The Remnant - Stories of the Jewish Resistance in WWII by Othniel J. Seiden

beyond his reach. "I've got it!"
    He let the log carry him along for a few moments. Then he started the slow sidestroke that he hoped would force the log and him out into the center of the river and to the other side. He furnished the power to cross the current while the river furnished the force to carry them back toward the city. He stroked, rested, stroked again. Though not attempting to fight the current, Yorgi was very fatigued a half hour later when he found himself less than thirty meters from the west bank of the Dnieper River. It was still dark. He rested briefly, clinging to his log. Now he could see the outline of a huge bridge crossing into Kiev, perhaps two hundred meters ahead.
    "Hell, I've got to be out of the river before I drift to the bridge."
    Gathering together what strength he had, he began stroking vigorously. By the time he had stroked twenty meters closer to the bank, he was less than a hundred meters from the bridge. He let go of his log and swam the last distance. It took him only a few seconds, but also all the strength he had left.
    Yorgi Tzarof pulled himself up onto the western bank about fifty meters from the bridge. Drenched and breathing painfully, he lay there trying to regain his strength and his bearings. He figured he had to be northeast of the city. Directly west of him was a totally unpopulated area. After a short rest, he started across it. Five minutes later, he came to another body of water, which struck fear into his heart.
    "I don't have the strength to cross another river!"
    Despairing, he began to follow the water's edge. After a few hundred yards the bank turned due east. Yorgi realized he'd just come across a cove in the Dnieper River that extended a finger of water inland.
    The water fell away behind him and he could see the first buildings of Kiev's Kurenevka district ahead. Aware of the curfew, Yorgi hesitated to enter the city before daylight. He was still barefoot. His ragged clothes would not raise too much suspicion in the city where German occupation had brought poverty to a majority of the citizens, except that they were soaked. But the bare feet bothered him. That would draw the most attention. That, with his lack of identity papers, would be fatal.
    He decided it would be best to get through the city as soon as possible. With caution he might get through before the day advanced too far. If not he'd find a basement to hide in until night. The eastern horizon held a hint of daylight.
    Looking in every direction, he entered the city, avoiding main thoroughfares. He hadn't gone too far when he stumbled upon a body in the street, shot through the neck and head.
    "Poor bastard," Yorgi said under his breath, "caught out after curfew."
    The man's misfortune was Yorgi's good luck. The corpse still wore shoes, not only that, but a threadbare suit coat with which Yorgi covered his tattered shirt. He also had papers that, though they would not withstand close scrutiny, might increase Yorgi's chances a little. The shoes were tight on Yorgi and hurt his feet, but they'd have to do until a better pair became available.
    "Thank you," Yorgi mumbled solemnly to the corpse and hurried on his way.
    As he made his way through the back streets, he became aware of the risk he was taking. In the brief time he'd been in the streets of Kiev, he'd seen no less than three bodies-all, he presumed, shot for curfew violations. After sighting the third, Yorgi decided not to press his luck. He hid in an alleyway behind some trash containers to await the rapidly approaching daylight ending the lethal curfew.
    He rested but could not sleep.
    Soon the sun was up and with it the activity in the street increased. He hoped he would be able to lose himself in the gathering crowds. After six in the morning there were a good number of people on the streets. Yorgi fell in with them, continuing constantly westward.
    As he walked, he was aware of a constant, repeating sound of gunfire.
    It took him only twenty