Howling could be heard at night, foots print could be found by the edge of the forest during the day. Even the dogs that patrolled with the guards were frightened of certain areas. A small path that led from the camp to a disposal area was marked with a sign. Nailed crookedly on a tree, the hand painted sign read “небесный свод ”, Canopy of Heaven.
The canopy provided firewood to the camp as well as work for the prisoners. Before the crematorium was built, prisoners that were executed or died were taken there and abandoned to the animals.
With the crematoriums now in full operation, disposing of the dead and sick in the forest was stopped. The corpses were now burned. It was determined by the government that to abandon the bodies to the forest was a waste of resources. Burning the body of a prisoner was just as easy as burning a piece of wood.
The prisoners were at first allowed to hold ceremonies before the cremations took place. This practice was later halted after it was determined that the prisoners would have no religious liberties. Therefore it was decreed that all cremations would be carried out in an expedient, non-ceremonial fashion.
Isidor came to the camp from the east. He was sent because of his radical views. In reality his only crime was to be a large, strong man. Laborer was the most important resource of the camp. When the camp experienced a shortage of men a call would go out to local law enforcement. Shortly thereafter young working age men would arrive on the trains. Isidor was one of these new draftees.
Isidor’s defiant attitude did not serve him well. He suffered through beatings many times. He would usually be locked in a concrete box. The box would be sealed tightly and filled with water from a hose. The only opening to the box was a circular hole in the top left corner. The hole was covered with a metal grate, secured with steel bolts. Escape was impossible.
As water filled to the top, Isidor was forced to swim into the narrow hole and push his nose against the grate to breathe. Watching him struggle, the captors would eventually turn a small handle that would open a small drain hole. Once the tank drained the process would be started again.
The torture would go on for hours, sometimes days. If the prisoner fell asleep he would drown. Sometimes the dark and the cold would convince a man to drown himself on purpose. If he survived he would be released. Isidor was strong, but how many times could he cheat death. He made a vow to himself that last time he went to the box that he would escape.
Alisa came to the camp from a small town to the west. She had been arrested for stealing food from the government owned farm system. Found guilty, Alisa’s children were sent to a government children’s home for training and preparation for adoption.
Alisa was sent to the camp without being able to say goodbye to her children. The magistrate told Alisa that the camp would provide for her the life she deserved and the life that society demanded for her. Have no concern for your children she was told, they belong to the state now.
Alisa was assigned a job in the camp laundry. She was able to avoid physical torture but was subjected to mental abuse by the guards. One guard informed her that he planned to adopt one of her children and raise him as his own. He told Alisa that he would make sure that the boy learned to hate her. He teased that he would bring the boy to meet her and the child would spit in her face.
Isidor pushed a cart of dirty sheets to laundry one day. As he stood by his cart waiting for his escort he noticed a young woman folding clothes. Smiling at her, she failed to respond to him and turned away. Looking down at his cart, he waited for his escort.
Slowly Alisa and Isidor began to develop a trust with each other. She told Isidor of her children and her former life. Isidor spoke of his torture and his desire to escape Inshindora. Alisa asked Isidor, “Is it possible to escape the camp?’
“I don’t know,” Isidor replied. “It is possible to try, I know that.”
“Aren’t you afraid you’ll die?” Alisa asks.
“Afraid? No, I’m more afraid of not trying.” Isidor replies. “It is better to die in the chase than to rot in the cell.”
Isidor tells Alisa that he plans to escape from the camp soon. Alisa asks Isidor if she can go too. At first Isidor would not consider this. He knew that he would probably die and did not wish to be part of Alisa’s death. Listening to Isidor speak Alisa said, “27 prisoners died last week, I washed their clothes and sheets. My death will come, with or without you.”
Thinking for a moment, Isidor reluctantly agreed to take Alisa with him. Alisa asked but one thing, that they travel west. She must have a chance of finding her children. Isidor agreed to go west with her. Their plan was born. Isidor explained that he planned to go by rail. It would be a complicated escape but he felt it offered the greatest chance of success. They needed to get away from the camp as quickly as possible. The rails offered this chance.
Parked on the siding west of a platform used for loading lumber was an old double-decker passenger car. If Isidor could get this car up to speed and push it on to the main line, in front of a lumber train, escape could be possible. Isidor knew from watching trains pass the camp that the lumber trains were pushed from behind. This would create the blind spot that he needed to put his car in the front.
No one would notice the car in front of the lumber train until they were already clear of the camp. If they were discovered it would take more than a mile to bring the train to a stop. That would be plenty for a chance at escape, the only problem, getting the car up to speed. Isidor figured that the lumber trains ran at about 40kph. His car, he guessed weighed 40 metric tons. He needed to push that out in front of a train that probably weighed another 200 metric tons.
200 tons, 40kph, Isidor thought for moment, “This better work or we’re dead.” But how could Isidor get a car up to speed. He would need another engine. The only engines available were the switcher units they used in the yard to move lumber cars. Isidor knew an engineer on one of the crews. His name was Misha.
Misha was missing both of his legs. He had lost them in an accident. Metal prosthetic legs were now attached to his stumps. Because of his mobility problems he had been trained as a switcher in the yard. He could drive an engine, but would he help? Asking a fellow inmate to do something forbidden could be a tricky and dangerous proposition. If he refused, he could earn himself a reward from turning the other guy in. Isidor could be dead before the plan even started.
Approaching Misha, Isidor asks him how long he expected to live in the camp. Laughing, Misha said “I expect to live tomorrow, anything more than that is a handful of luck and hope. Why do you ask friend? Are you looking to fly with the birds?”
“Only the dying bird flies alone.” Isidor replies.
“I watch the birds from atop my metal legs. I wonder sometimes what it would feel like to be the hawk that dives for the sparrow. Driving my train past the guards, I know how the sparrow feels. Has the time come to be the hawk?” Misha asks.
Reaching out and patting Misha on the back, Isidor whispers, “Seize the wings that are laid upon you friend.”
Misha was in. He spoke at great length with Isidor. He liked the ideas he presented. Misha had a schedule of trains and free access to the train yard. He could move without raising suspicion. He was confident the plan would work, more so than Isidor.
They chose a late afternoon train, close to sundown. With the lumber trains heading into a sitting sun, visibility would be impaired for the engineers. If the engineer found out something was wrong and stopped, it would be dark or close to darkness. This would make it easier to escape along the tracks as they moved west. With any luck they could cover 30 miles walking all night.
Isidor and Alisa would leave the laundry at 4:00pm. Alisa would hide in the clothing basket that Isidor pushed every day. Once outside, they would move alongside the buildings, making their way to the double-decker. If they were lucky enough to make it, they would climb inside and hide. Misha and Isidor agreed, the plan was settled.
Lying in his bed, Isidor went over
every detail he could think of. Repeating the exercise over and over in his head, Isidor was as ready as he would ever be. The key would be to remain calm, force himself to move slow, and not attract attention.
Working through the day of the escape was hard for Isidor. He couldn’t help but be on edge. Every sudden move or loud noise made his heartbeat rise. Earlier, after lunch a guard had started to stare at Isidor. For a moment he thought he was going to soil his pants. After the guard lost interest in Isidor and moved on, Isidor sat down and nearly passed out on the table.
The time to escape had come. Isidor pushed is cart through the small doorway and walked down the hallway. As he approached the laundry room he casually looked behind him and paused for a moment. Everything was clear so he proceeded to enter the room. Scanning the area he located Alisa. Trying not to make eye contact with her, he bent over and began moving the laundry around in the basket.
Alisa appeared beside him. Looking around to see if anybody was watching, Alisa slid down into the cart. Casually reaching in, Isidor arranged the sheets on top of her. Stacking them gently, Isidor made one last circle with his hands, a final touch. He was now satisfied. Slowly he pushed the basket towards the door. As he approached the exit, a woman walked up beside the cart and looked inside.
“Is there a problem mam?” Isidor asks.
Placing her hands gently on the side of the cart, the woman replies, “No…there is no problem sir.”
Continuing out the door, Isidor walked down the hallway. Slowly moving he could feel every heartbeat in his chest. Breathing hard and labored he pushed on. He told himself he must keep control, overcome the urge to take off running. “Relax” he whispers to himself.
The exit door is now straight ahead. “We’re almost outside.” Isidor whispers to Alisa. Suddenly the door opens. Stopping the cart, Isidor drops his hands to his sides. The bright light from outside hits him in the , he sees a guard appear in front of him.
“What are doing prisoner?” the guard asks.
“Laundry sir”, Isidor replies.
Slowly sticking his nightstick in the basket the guard looks at Isidor and says, “The laundry is the other way. Why are you down here?”
Looking the guard in the eye, Isidor replies “These sheets are going to the incinerator sir. They were wrapped around a gut stabbed prisoner. The dry blood and flesh are now bubbling with maggots. Would you like to see them?”
“Nyet...that will be ok. Go on.” The guard replies as he points outside.
Pushing the cart through the door, Isidor says, “Thank you sir.”
Now standing on the rail platform Isidor scans the area. There a several trains moving in front of him. The noise is so loud Isidor can’t even hear his own voice. Train whistles sound to the left and right. One whistle is so loud he can feel it in his chest. Over to his left is the loud banging of steel on steel. The sound is so rapid it’s like a giant second hand on watch. The noise of wheels on rails, click-ching, click-ching, click-ching, continues nonstop. A diesel engine revs in the other direction.
Looking around to see if he is being watched, Isidor reaches into the cart and pulls on Alisa’s arm. Quickly she climbs out of the cart and they start to walk down the platform to the west. As they jump off the dock they run between two rows of parked train cars. Making their way down the tracks, they look for the double-decker car. It should be sticking above the others with its extra height.
“Be very quiet, there could be people out here that we can’t see.” Isidor whispers to Alisa as he hunches down to take a look around. “Over there,” Isidor points.
Isidor sees the legs of a man in the next row over. The man is wearing knee length boots. “It’s a guard.” He silently mouths the words to Alisa. Isidor takes his index finger and puts it over his lips. “Shhh…” Opening his coat, he shows Alisa a long knife that he has smuggled from the tool room.
Keeping still, Isidor and Alisa watch the boots for the guard’s next move. A cigarette butt drops to the ground. After kicking the butt one time, the guard walks away. Isidor and Alisa wait a minute then continue on to the double-decker. “Over there,” Isidor points as he whispers, “Our car.”
Forcing the door open, Isidor and Alisa climb inside the old train car. Looking at Alisa, Isidor says, “When we get up topside, we have to stay low. We’ll be above the other cars. We don’t want anybody to see us.” The two prisoners make their way to the top compartment. Crawling to the back of the car, Isidor lifts his head just enough to see out the dirty window of the old car. The track is clear, just as Misha said it would be. Crawling onto the last seats in the car, the escapees lay quietly, waiting for Misha.
Isidor whispers, “So far, so good.”
“Yes, so good,” Alisa replies.
Their whole plan depends on Misha. Only he will know when the lumber train comes by the camp. It will be up to him to control the timing of the push. It will be up to him to set the switch for them to roll out on to the main.
“Do you think this will work?” asks Alisa.
“I don’t know, we got a shot, a chance, maybe 50%. If we’re lucky…” Isidor replies.
“50%” Alisa asks.
“Are you having second thoughts? You can leave now you know. Go back to the laundry like nothing’s happened.” Isidor replies.
“I go on even if it only 10%” Alisa says.
“Listen! It’s an engine, he’s coming!” Isidor whispers.
Slowly moving to the edge of the window, Isidor sees a yard engine rolling up the tracks behind them. As the engine gets closer, Isidor crawls to front of the car and goes outside. Walking up to the stopped engine Isidor stands at the bottom of the ladder. Crawling down from the cab, with a wrench in his hand, Misha says, “We have to close the coupler. We don’t want to connect to each other. We want to push, not tie.” Misha tells Isidor.
After closing the coupler, Misha starts to climb back up the ladder. Looking down at Isidor he says while pointing at the back of the double-decker, “When we get to speed, I climb out on catwalk and jump to door. The “dead man” brake stop engine before get to traffic.”
Revving the diesel up to maximum rpms, Misha pushes the locomotive in to the back of the empty car. As the car lurches forward, Alisa and Isidor are thrown back into their seats. As the car moves away from the others it picks up speed. Slowly at first but quickly gaining speed the train rolls down the track. Pass one of the loading docks a guard turns and stares at them.
Now out in the open, the train is moving at a fast pace. Looking out the back of the train, Isidor sees Misha open the door on the engine. Slowly walking, his steel legs are wobbling; he clings to the rail as he makes his way to the door. Reaching the nose of the train he realizes he’ll have to jump 4-feet to get to us.
Quickly the engine starts losing power, the dead-man has kicked in. Stepping back and taking a running start, Misha leaps across. Falling short, Isidor grabs his arm and to pull him up into the car. His steel legs bouncing on the track below, sparks jump up behind Misha. Finally Isidor is able to pull Misha into the car.
Looking out the back of the car, Isidor can now see the lumber train coming up behind them. Just as they enter the mainline the yard engine cuts in front of the lumber train. Rolling the 150-ton engine like a ball, the yard engine goes off the tracks and into traffic coming from the other way.
The lumber train flies from behind and hits our car. At first it barely touches, then suddenly the locomotive hits hard. As they are pushed back in to their seats the train starts pushing their car. Looking over at Alisa and Misha, Isidor starts to smile, but just at that moment there is an explosion behind them. Jumping out of their seats to look, they see only a fireball in the sky.
Looking out the side window, Isidor sees the eastbound train start to lurch. It bends like a jack knife, a lose car swings into their path. In the blink of an eye the front of their car is torn off. With sheet metal blowing up and down in front of them, debris blows inside the car. Holding on for thei
r lives they watch as the train next to them continues to crumple.
The lumber engine behind them continues to blow its whistle. The sound is almost deafening. Grabbing their ears, the prisoners run to the center of the car. Another car rolls on to tracks in front of them. Bracing for the collision, the double-decker smashes the sideways boxcar and blows right through it. Misha, now sitting in a seat, can’t brace himself. The collision throws him forward, towards the open end of the train. Sliding across the floor Misha tries to grab something to stop himself from rolling out of the open car.
With debris blowing in his face, Isidor runs to the front of the train and grabs Misha’s hand and pulls him back just as his legs slide out of the car. Feeling the train slowing down, Alisa runs to the back window. She sees that the lumber train is slowing down. The car and train are separating, slowly at first but quicker by the second.
As they leave the train behind, it gets quiet in the car. They only sound is the hum of the wheels rolling on the track below. Suddenly the car lurches to the right. Looking out the window, Misha says, “They’ve switched us off the main.” As the car rolls down the tracks they watch as open fields start to disappear and the landscape begins to turn into forest.
“What is this?” Isidor asks aloud.
“This is an old abandoned logging spur.” Misha replies.
Staring ahead, Alisa says quietly, “They’re sending us into the forest…”
The train rolls down the tracks deeper and deeper into the forest. Click-click, click-click, click…the train stops. Night is on the prisoners as they look around. Sitting in the seats no one moves.
“What do we do now?” Isidor asks.
Still staring out the car, Misha says, “I’m sure if they find us they’ll kill us.”
Lonesome Town - 3 Short Stories Page 3