Free Puppet by Eva Wiseman

noise.
    Terrible grunts came from Joseph Scharf's mouth as he struggled to break away from the guards.
    “And what is the name of the man who killed Esther Solymosi, the man you're pointing at?” Bary asked.
    “He is Solomon Schwarcz, the new shochet.” Morris's voice was little more than a whisper.
    “Why are you telling such terrible lies? I did nothing! I'm innocent! I can prove it!”
    Mr. Scharf's animal sounds as he strained against the guards were horrible to hear.
    “The butcher killed the girl! The butcher killed the girl!” the villagers were shouting, waving their fists in the air. The clutch of Jewish women turned their heads away as if the words were blows. Even in the commotion, Morris did not raise his head.
    “Silence!” Bary shouted. “Who were the men who held the girl down while Solomon Schwarcz cut her throat?”
    Morris hesitated, then pointed to the two men standing on either side of Schwarcz.
    “They help shochet kill girl,” he said.
    “What are their names?” Bary asked.
    Morris shook his head and stared at the ground.
    “Who are you?” Recsky shouted. “What are you doing in Tisza-Eszlar?”
    “I'm Abraham Buxbaum,” said the taller of the two. “I did nothing! I came here to try out for the shochet's job. I didn't even know the girl!”
    He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
    “Why are you sweating?” Bary asked. “Are you nervous because you're guilty?”
    “It's warm,” Buxbaum answered. “Everybody sweats in the heat. I'm innocent!”
    Bary's eyes rested on the shorter man.
    “Who are you?”
    “I'm Lipot Braun. I never saw the girl either. I, too, came to Tisza-Eszlar to apply for the shochet's job, but I was turned down.”
    “Who was chosen?”
    Buxbaum and Braun looked at Schwarcz.
    Bary smirked and addressed Morris.
    “Only one more person to identify, boy” he said. “Tell us which one of the beggars lured Esther Solymosi into the synagogue?”
    The beggars, barefooted in ragged clothes, were standing together among the other prisoners.
    “Which beggar tricked Esther?” Bary repeated.
    Morris lifted his head and looked around.
    “He not here,” he said. “Beggar not here.”
    “Are you sure?” Bary asked.
    “I'm sure,” Morris mumbled.
    Bary gestured at the filthiest of the beggars.
    “Could this be him? Is this the man you saw call Esther?”
    Morris shook his head.
    “Look again, boy!” Bary said. “Look carefully! Remember what we told you. I repeat — could this be the beggar who lured Esther Solymosi into the synagogue?”
    Angry red splotches appeared on Morris's bruised face.
    “Yes,” he muttered, “it's that beggar.”
    “Louder, boy!” Bary said.
    Morris nodded his head in the beggar's direction.
    “It's him!” he said loudly.
    “I wasn't even in your bloody town the day that servant girl disappeared!” cried the beggar. He took a step toward Morris. Two gendarmes grabbed his arms and pulled him away.
    “What's your name?”
    The man didn't answer. The gendarmes' hold tightened and Recsky raised his whip.
    The beggar cringed. “Don't hit me! I'm Herman Vollner, but I swear with the All Mighty as my witness that I am innocent!”
    “Kill the Jews! Kill the Jews!” The villagers were relentless in their hatred. I hadn't seen them this bloodthirsty sincethe traveling puppet show, urging on Leslie the Brave to put an end to the Devil.
    Bary turned to Morris with a self-satisfied smile.
    “Did you tell your father you witnessed the murder of Esther Solymosi by looking through the keyhole?” he asked.
    Morris remained mute.
    “Talk, boy talk if you know what's good for you!” yelled Recsky.
    “Yes, I tell mein Papa what I see.”
    “What did your father tell you to do?” Bary asked.
    Morris did not answer.
    “Remember what I told you, boy” Peczely said softly. “Remember what I told you.”
    Morris clasped his hands over his mouth and began to rock on his heels.
    “Papa say not tell anybody what I see. He