Page 53 of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
‘It’s over, Lale, and you’re healing. Leave it alone.’
‘Did you break my nose? I’m having trouble breathing through it.’
‘Probably, but not too bad. The swelling’s gone down and it’s hardly out of shape. You’re still handsome. You’ll still have the girls chasing you.’
‘I don’t want girls chasing me.’
‘Why not?’
‘I’ve found the one I want.’
The next day the door opens and Lale looks up to greet Jakub but instead there are two SS officers. They indicate for Lale to get to his feet and come with them. Lale stays sitting as he tries to compose himself.Can this be the end?Am I for the Black Wall?He silently says his goodbyes to his family and, lastly, to Gita. The SS become impatient, step into his room and point their rifles at him. He follows them outside on trembling legs. Feeling the sun on his face for the first time in more than a week he staggers along, between the two officers. Looking up, preparing to meet his fate, he sees several other prisoners being bundled into a nearby truck.Maybe this isn’t the end.His legs give out and the officers drag him the remaining short distance. They throw him on and he doesn’t look back. He clings to the side of the truck all the way to Birkenau.
Chapter 20
Lale is helped from the truck and dragged into Oberscharführer Houstek’s office. The two SS officers hold him by an arm each.
‘We got nothing out of him even after the big Jew had a go,’ one of them says.
Houstek turns to Lale, who raises his head.
‘So you really didn’t know their names? And they didn’t shoot you?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Returned you to me, hey? Now you’re my problem again.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Houstek addresses the officers.
‘Take him to Block 31.’ He turns to Lale. ‘We will get some hard work out of you before your number is up, mark my words.’
Lale is dragged from the office. He tries to keep pace with the SS officers. But halfway across the compound he gives up and sacrifices the skin on the top of his feet to the gravel. The officers open the door to Block 31 and toss him inside before taking their leave. Lale lies on the floor, exhausted in body and soul. Several inmates approach him cautiously. Two try to help him up, but Lale cries out in pain and they stop. One of the men pulls up Lale’s shirt, revealing the large welts across his back and buttocks. More gently this time they pick him up and place him on a bunk. He soon falls asleep.
•
‘I know who this is,’ one of the prisoners says.
‘Who?’ another asks.
‘It’s the Tätowierer. Don’t you recognise him? He probably made your number.’
‘Yeah, you’re right. I wonder who he pissed off.’
‘I got extra rations from him when I was in Block 6. He was always handing out food.’
‘I don’t know about that. I’ve only been in this block. I pissed someone off the day I arrived.’ The men chuckle quietly.
‘He can’t make it to supper. I’ll bring him some of mine. He’s gonna need it tomorrow.’
A short while later Lale is woken by two men, each with a small piece of bread. They offer it to him and he gratefully accepts.
‘I’ve got to get out of here.’
The men laugh.
‘Sure, my friend. You have two options then: one is quick, the other might take a little longer.’
