Dead Europe Read Online Free
Author: Christos Tsiolkas
All the harpies in the village will be lining up to denounce us.
âMichaeli, I have known you a long time. Yes, the Germans are everywhere, that is why my wife and daughters and I must flee. But up here in these mountains there are many hiding places. You can hide the boy. And this war will not last. Once it is over, once the Germans have gone, the boy is yours to keep.
Lucia shook her head in disbelief. The man was a fool if he thought that they would be taken in. Everyone knew that the Hebrews could not be trusted. Even if the Germans were to be conquered, nothing would stop Jacova returning and claiming his son. No, throw him out, Michaeli, throw out the Hebrew and his bastard child.
Michaelis turned to Lucia.
âUp near the summit of the mountain, near where you graze the goats, in what condition is the old church?
âMichaeli, stop this nonsense. Old Voulgaris, Basili Leptomasâ youngest, they all graze their herds up there. We could not hide the child.
âWe could, beneath the stone. The old monks had a room beneath the church. No one is fool enough to venture there. We could lock the cellar during the day and the child could roam free at night. We could do that.
Lucia stared across the table to where the older Hebrew was sitting. Jacova was looking only at Michaeli, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes. The boy was staring at her. In the darkness his face was dark and only the white in his eyes was visible. Lucia shuddered.
âWe cannot do it, Husband. If they catch us â¦
Michaeli ignored her. He was looking hard at Jacova.
âAnd what will you pay us if we decide in your favour?
The father nodded to his son. From underneath his tunic Elias took out a small parcel wrapped in black silk. Jacova took it from him, pulled away the silk and opened the lid ofa square wood box. In the dark room, the gold and the jewels sparkled like fire. Lucia drew a breath. Michaelisâ eyes grew wide and delighted. Lucia rose from the bench and stood beside her husband. The men and the boy had disappeared. From the box she took out a small band, gold and studded with glittering silver stones, which she placed on her finger. She took a ruby brooch and held it close to her lips. All the time the boyâs gaze did not leave her enraptured face.
âOurs?
âAll of it, yours.
Lucia placed the jewels back into the box. Michaelis closed the lid and placed the box on his lap as if he feared the Hebrew would regret his offer and snatch it back.
âHe will work hard for me.
âHe works hard for me now.
Jacova placed his arm around his son.
âYou will treat him fairly?
âOf course.
Michaelis rose from the table. He gave the box to his wife and beckoned the boy to come with him. The father and son were allowed a moment to say farewell and then Jacova began his trek back down the mountain. Lucia watched as her husband and the boy walked into the black night for their ascent to the summit. She cursed her useless womb, pounding her fists on her stomach, and then fell to the ground and began banging the stone floor. Her anger was so ferocious that on reaching to brush aside a wisp of hair that had fallen loose from her head scarf, she found that she had torn a clutch of hair from her head. In her fury and hatred she had not felt the pain. Her face twisted into a terrible grimace, spit falling from her mouth as she banged her head on the stone, until she finally exhausted herself from curses and lay trembling on the floor. Again she could hear the breeze spinning among the trees. Giving up her curses, her prayers to God spent, she now turned elsewhere.
âSatan, give me my own child. Give me my own child, Lord, and take away the demon Hebrew youâve let into my house.
As soon as Lucia uttered her prayer, a peace descended. Slowly she rose from the floor and, gathering her hair tight under her scarf, she dried her eyes. The dawn was beginning. She went to light the fire and
âMichaeli, I have known you a long time. Yes, the Germans are everywhere, that is why my wife and daughters and I must flee. But up here in these mountains there are many hiding places. You can hide the boy. And this war will not last. Once it is over, once the Germans have gone, the boy is yours to keep.
Lucia shook her head in disbelief. The man was a fool if he thought that they would be taken in. Everyone knew that the Hebrews could not be trusted. Even if the Germans were to be conquered, nothing would stop Jacova returning and claiming his son. No, throw him out, Michaeli, throw out the Hebrew and his bastard child.
Michaelis turned to Lucia.
âUp near the summit of the mountain, near where you graze the goats, in what condition is the old church?
âMichaeli, stop this nonsense. Old Voulgaris, Basili Leptomasâ youngest, they all graze their herds up there. We could not hide the child.
âWe could, beneath the stone. The old monks had a room beneath the church. No one is fool enough to venture there. We could lock the cellar during the day and the child could roam free at night. We could do that.
Lucia stared across the table to where the older Hebrew was sitting. Jacova was looking only at Michaeli, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes. The boy was staring at her. In the darkness his face was dark and only the white in his eyes was visible. Lucia shuddered.
âWe cannot do it, Husband. If they catch us â¦
Michaeli ignored her. He was looking hard at Jacova.
âAnd what will you pay us if we decide in your favour?
The father nodded to his son. From underneath his tunic Elias took out a small parcel wrapped in black silk. Jacova took it from him, pulled away the silk and opened the lid ofa square wood box. In the dark room, the gold and the jewels sparkled like fire. Lucia drew a breath. Michaelisâ eyes grew wide and delighted. Lucia rose from the bench and stood beside her husband. The men and the boy had disappeared. From the box she took out a small band, gold and studded with glittering silver stones, which she placed on her finger. She took a ruby brooch and held it close to her lips. All the time the boyâs gaze did not leave her enraptured face.
âOurs?
âAll of it, yours.
Lucia placed the jewels back into the box. Michaelis closed the lid and placed the box on his lap as if he feared the Hebrew would regret his offer and snatch it back.
âHe will work hard for me.
âHe works hard for me now.
Jacova placed his arm around his son.
âYou will treat him fairly?
âOf course.
Michaelis rose from the table. He gave the box to his wife and beckoned the boy to come with him. The father and son were allowed a moment to say farewell and then Jacova began his trek back down the mountain. Lucia watched as her husband and the boy walked into the black night for their ascent to the summit. She cursed her useless womb, pounding her fists on her stomach, and then fell to the ground and began banging the stone floor. Her anger was so ferocious that on reaching to brush aside a wisp of hair that had fallen loose from her head scarf, she found that she had torn a clutch of hair from her head. In her fury and hatred she had not felt the pain. Her face twisted into a terrible grimace, spit falling from her mouth as she banged her head on the stone, until she finally exhausted herself from curses and lay trembling on the floor. Again she could hear the breeze spinning among the trees. Giving up her curses, her prayers to God spent, she now turned elsewhere.
âSatan, give me my own child. Give me my own child, Lord, and take away the demon Hebrew youâve let into my house.
As soon as Lucia uttered her prayer, a peace descended. Slowly she rose from the floor and, gathering her hair tight under her scarf, she dried her eyes. The dawn was beginning. She went to light the fire and
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