HEMNA

 
HEMNA

Chapter I
Born into death

I did not expect to die this soon."

These are the words my father said to me, whilst laying in his bed, chained to death, suffocating in his own sin.

"Great becomes you my son...for much trials await you, but also much splendour." Said my father; his last words, as he inhaled life no more.

He was gone!" Said I to my mother.

Immediately mother sent Sara, my sister, to find Mr. Graham. And while Sara ran out to fetch Mr. Graham, I sort of struggled to loosen my hand from my father's mighty grip as he exhaled his last bit of life into my face; it was as if I could say, that I received my father's soul.

Our father was dead, killed by the Nazis. He however was fortunate, to have the opportunity to tell his family just how much he loved them and although I was filled with sadness and both hatred towards the Nazis, I managed to control my emotions and the loss of my father, took a part of me with him. But he did however leave a part of his, with me.
My uncle arrived rushing into our home. He looked as if he had seen a ghost; breathing heavily he said,' we must leave...now!"

"Why Jakob? Can't you see that we have just lost my husband, I can't allow this; leaving him like this, it's not the proper thing to do. Joshua wouldn't want this Jakob!" Said mother.

(By this time my sister Sara returned from Mr. Graham.)
"Mother! Mr. Graham is dead." Said Sara.

"I understand Marta and I apologise but the Nazis will kill all the families related to the related members of the resistance." Said Uncle Jakob.

Mother just stood there crying. She knew we were staring at her, then quickly she wiped her tears and said,' what are you all staring at! We must leave...now!'

And whilst everyone rushed to leave; I froze. I did not want to let go of my father. And I knew in my heart that I'd never never be able to make peace with those men taking him from me; I knew that someday I'll have my revenge and they would surely pay for what they did to our family.

I could hear my mother calling out my truck, but by the time I looked her way, a Nazis soldier stood before me. He smiled as he stared into my eyes and hit me on my forehead with the back of his gun. I was then unconscious but I could feel my body being pulled, still...I was unsure of what their plans were with me. All I knew was...I was probably going to die like my father.

'What will become of me? I asked myself deep in my thoughts.

Chapter II

The Fear of falling

I could feel, these little drops of water. It fell in my face and by the time I fully gained consciousness, I saw him sitting at his desk.

The one who shot my father; their commanding Captain. My parents called him 'the Red Vulture"

I rosé to my feet the minute I noticed him sitting there; I was scared but I did not show it on my face, I refused to be weak.
He got out of his chair, walked up to me and smiled. As I looked into his eyes I noticed he had a red iris in the shape of a bird; it looked like an eagle spreading its wings, maybe that was how he got his nickname.

I looked at the other two guards smiling with a lust to kill me. I could tell, because they were amongst the men who killed my father.

"Why did you kill my father? He was not part of the resistance! You killed Mr. Graham as well!' I said. (My tears running down my face)

They laughed, as if I was not even there; as if I was some kind of ghost to them.

"Answer me! You coward!' I said with anger and my rage rosé heavily.

One of the officers wanted to slap me but the Captain stopped him and said to the officer,' Edmund...let the boy speak his mind. You obviously know, he won't live to tell the tale."

The guard ceased his attack and stood there smiling.

"Mighty words....indeed you are not a normal Jew. Normally you Jews just stay quiet and accept things as they are, but you...hmmm' he said, not even answering my question.

"Answer me!!!' I said.

He kept smiling no matter what I said. And when I had finally given up hope.

"Listen boy, I'm sure you're mourning the death of your father, but I'm a little lost...you see I don't remember killing your father, maybe I did, but then again I killed so many fathers, it's hard for me to tell which one was yours." He said, patronising me with his smile.

Suddenly a knock came to the door.

Edmund went to open it and it was a woman. She looked very strict and she had this red coat, with long blonde hair. I remember the officer saying,' Good Afternoon Mrs. Ackermann."

She did not greet him back. She walked straight towards the man we call the Vulture, kissed him and said,' My God! Vickary...a boy? Is that what you're doing now? Experimenting on boys? You know I don't like this...the pathetic jews I don't mind, but children...you do know I'm the mother to your children right?'

"Yes...how many times are you going to remind me? Couldn't you have waited till tonight to give me a lecture about parenting!' He said. (Probably frustrated by his wife's manner of confronting him in front of his men, I suppose)

He looked rather angry himself.

"Edmund! Reinhart!" He said.

"Yes, Captain!' Both men replied.

"If word gets out of this conversation, I'll have you working with the Jews. I'll declare you as traitors against the Fuhrer and be aware...your families will live the rest of their lives in shame." He said without even blinking.

"Understood Sir!' They said.

"Hail Hitler!' Said Vickary.

They replied with the same tone saying,' Hail Hitler." (Raising their right arms in mid air.)

He smiled.

"You're excused." He said. They then left the room and he said to her,' If you ever! And I mean ever try and embarrass me as you just did in front of mine...I assure you, whether you're the mother of my children, or not. I'll shave your head personally and place you in a gas chamber, then I'll burn you, until you are no more."

I could see the fear in her eyes. She was scared of him. So was his men. Still...I did not show fear but that did not seem to bother him at all.

"You're excused!' He said to her.

She just looked down, walked towards the door and opened it. She then turned around and gave him one last look and walked out saying not a word.
Soon thereafter, I heard a young boy's voice from afar.
The door opened and the boy ran to the arms of Vickary, saying aloud,' Papa! Papa! Look what I made!' (Showing him an air plane.)

Vickary just pretended to be a loving and caring person around his son. Laughing and giggling along to what his son was saying. It irritated me to look at them bonding, meanwhile I mourned my father's passing away. It affected me a great deal, but I had to be strong, for the sake of my own survival. I just had to find a way to make it through the worst.

"Yes son...I see you're very creative! It looks magnificent. Can I keep it?' Vickary said.

"It's not completed yet Papa, I must still paint it.' He said.

A phone call came through, and he answered.
" Captain Ackermann speaking.'

I could not hear what the other person said on the other side. But I knew he was a general, because that was what Vickary called him. And it seemed he had a lot of respect for this particular general.

His son then walked up to me and started speaking to me about how much he loved air planes and that he could not wait to fly his first plane someday.

I pretended to listen to him, but did not really focus on what he said: because to me, vengeance was the only thing that would keep me alive.

Vickary then ended the call and said,' Walter...go to your mother. Tell her I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Yes, papa!' Walter said.

The moment Walter went to open the door, a man walked in, not knocking. And Walter loudly said,' uncle Josef!"

The man laughed, tossing Walter into the air and said,' look how big you are...magnificent, you look just like your uncle Antoni, when he was your age."

"Someday I too will be a pilot like uncle Antoni." Said Walter.

"Yes, your uncle Antoni was the best.' Said .

Vickary once again answered the phone. And seemed a bit tense. He stared at me and looked his son's way saying,' boy, go now...your mother's waiting.

"Yes papa! And goodbye uncle Josef, it was nice seeing you again. I'll let mama know you've arrived." Said Walter.

"Go now!' Said Vickary.

Walter left, but forgot his plane. Vickary did not notice it but I did.
Josef took out a gun and pointed it directly at my head, attempting to kill me right there, but as he pointed the gun at me, Vickary's son opened the door, rushing to get his air plane back. Unfortunately witnessed his beloved uncle Josef attempting to kill me. Walter stood there staring at his uncle; being absolutely shocked at what he saw, he ran back downstairs leaving the door open. Vickary went to close it and Josef pursued on shooting me but Vickary stopped him. Instead Vickary had something else in mind. He suggested they use me to lure out more Jews.

"I guess this is your lucky day...you should thank God for sparing you on this day. Otherwise, you'd be dead by now." Said Josef.

"I do not fear death, and you pose no threat to me.' I said.

"Oh but you will experience something far worse than death, I assure you. Once I'm done with you...you're going to wish you were dead.' Said Josef. (Confidently)

Chapter III
לשרוד
(Survive)

"Is that suppose to scare me?' I asked.

Josef just looked at me smiling. "Cocky one.' He said.
"Boy! I just about had it with you! But soon enough...you'll be one of us.' Vickary said.

"What do you mean, one of you?' I asked. (Fearful)

"Josef...go get the other boys, we have little time left, so we'll have to do it right here, and make sure no one sees you.' Said Vickary.

I sat there in distraught, not knowing what to think, or believe. Everything was a mystery around this people, and I was a curious Jew.

Josef left the room and Vickary and I was alone. He walked pass me, pulled down this big red curtain with the nazi symbol they also used as their flag. They called it the 'swastika."

"What does that mean? That...symbol." I asked. (Curious)

He smiled and surprisingly giggled in a very strange manner, he turned around holding the curtain in his hand.
"It means good luck. It means hope for Germany, and glory to white domination, but my wife believes we are disrespecting the true meaning of the symbol.' He said.

The door opened and Josef walked in with three other jewish boys along with one girl.

Vickary placed four chairs next to mine and had them seated. He smiled at Josef. I noticed Josef smiling as well. I was curious and also very fearful to what their intentions were with us.

What were they planning to do with us?

"Now that we're all here, I'd like all of you to stand, raise your right hands and repeat after me:

"I swear by God
this sacred oath: That I shall render
unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler,
Fuhrer of the German Reich and
people, Supreme Commander of the
Armed Forces, and that I shall at all
times be ready, as a brave soldier, to
give my life for this oath."

They all said it along with him, until they knew it. He imprinted those words into their heads, meanwhile I on the other hand refused to be part of this allegiance.

Vickary then noticed that I did not participate in this oath he taught the others. So he stopped them, and he said,' what is the meaning of this?" (Frustrated)

"I will not have part of this! I refuse to betray my own people and become a spy, I'd rather die right here, than to be one your rats.' I said.

"Ah huh! I see...you're a rebellious one. Now let me tell you something, and this goes for all of you. If you refuse to do as I say, I will kill all your families whom I have under my custody. All I ask is that you agree to these terms of mine and you will live a long life with your families. You have my word." Vickary said.

I looked him straight in the eye and said,' I do not believe you are a man of your word. You are a devil!"

He walked out of the room. Josef followed him and whilst they were gone I tried to persuade the other children that what they were doing was wrong and that God will punish them; but I could see the hurt and that they felt, they had no choice but to do as Vickary said. My plan on making them reconsider, did not work. No matter what I said, it seemed Vickary already had the upper hand.

Then Vickary and Josef walked back into the room. He had a knife, a very sharp knife in his hand and he looked into my eyes, with his nose against mine.

"Do you believe in God?' He asked me

"Of course I do. He will punish you and your people.' I said. (Confidently)

"Oh really, then tell me...where is he now?' Vickary asked. (Smiling)

I did not answer him. He then looked at Josef, nodded his head and Josef held me down. Vickary opened my mouth, but I fought back biting his fingers, and fought hard to escape for Josef's grip. I panicked; everything was so blurry.I was scared, and as I pursued fighting back, Vickary got up, punched me in the face and hitting me out-cold.
I could see blood on my shirt, and an immense pain coming from my mouth. My face felt swollen and I saw the other children look to me with tears in their eyes.
I was confused, scared and angry. I did not know what to think or what to say; then I looked down at the blood continuously dripping from my mouth and it was then, on the floor, when I noticed that a piece of skin, that looked sort of like a tongue. It laid there, surrounded in blood. I was curious but also very scared, so I put my hand in my mouth and I discovered Vickary had viciously cut out my tongue. I burst out in tears, and I wanted to scream but I could not even speak. I would never be able to say another word for as long as I would live.