Page 181 - Musings 2020
P. 181
25
The Escape
Siddhant Khandelwal 2017A7PS0127P
Isaac, Lionel, and Sebastian made their way to the camp. The prisoners lined up in a straight
line that led to the small warehouse. Isaac entered first and was mistreated by a Nazi guard.
Lionel followed as well as Sebastian. The prisoners were tattooed with a number for
identification. They were then brought to a small room where their heads were shaved. "Take
off your clothes!". A Nazi guard protested to Sebastian. Sebastian then removed all of his
clothes as well as the others, who were stacked naked, embarrassed of the situation. The
guards then handed them blue vertical striped sleeves and pajamas. Afterward, the process
was done. Every prisoner looked the same. Lionel then signaled Isaac and Sebastian to
proceed.
"Stick together. Don't let anyone know we know each other." Murmured Lionel. The
prisoners were told to form a straight line and get into rows. "You will never get out of this
camp! You will work every day with bare time to rest to suffer the consequences!" Lectured
one Nazi lieutenant. After the lecture was done, the prisoners were commanded to go inside
their worn-out cabins. A month has passed, Lionel, Isaac, and Sebastian are getting weaker
every second. The dirty place and pollution worsened the situation. Sebastian was transferred
to a different section to work in. Nonstop work caused Isaac and Lionel to get stiffly weak.
Sebastian was approaching the point of collapsing due to the harsh conditions. "You know I
feel like we're stuck here. I feel like I'm going to rot in here and die." Lionel rasped out of
breath. "Don't say that, have hope. You know, to cure our boredom, let's talk about food we're
going to eat when we get home someday." Isaac suggested from a sick voice. "Our only hope
is the food parcels that come here weekly," Lionel uttered in a feeble voice.
One night, Isaac was peeking through the tiny holes of the cabin. "Look who's that!" Isaac
exclaimed shocked. Lionel stood up from his bunker peeking through the tiny hole. He might
get caught!" Lionel replied back. A prisoner was digging a hole beneath the electric, barbed
fence and was making an escape. A few minutes had passed and the prisoner was halfway
out. The prisoner escaped and left a trace for the Germans to find out. The next day, the Nazi
guards were trying to track the escapee that fled during the night. A Nazi guard proclaimed
everyone in their bunkers to wake up. "I think we're in trouble. They're going to interrogate
us." Isaac fretted. "Yes, I think we’re in trouble Isaac." Lionel muttered back. The prisoners
were one by one investigated. The ones who were nearby the site were the ones who were
interrogated the most. A voice called out and caught Isaac's attention. The guards held Isaac
on both arms which forced him to follow orders. They walked through the mud path for a
mile and then reached a dark green cabin that was clean as brand new. Isaac made his way to
the steps. One guard let loose of Isaac's arm and opened the cabin door carefully. The guards
escorted Isaac and demanded him to sit on the cushioned chair. Lieutenant Victor Neil
ordered the two guards, Jorgen Carl and Tommy Collin to let go of Isaac.
Victor Neil flipped through the profile book that listed information on when the prisoner,
Jorgen (spoke in German) mentioning Isaac's tattoo number, said "I think he knows
something. Try your best Mr. Neil". "You may be right. The look on his face has a lot to tell
us." Isaac understood a few German words. He was half-German and half-Jew. Victor then
181