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’Mirty - eight,’he said quietly

’God help me,’said Wladek

Tou will look like this when you have been a prisoner for fifteen years, my boy,’ said the doctor matter of factly

’Whyareyou here at all?’said Wladek ’Why haven’t they let you go af ter all this time ?’

’I was taken prisoner in Moscow in 1904, soon after I had qualified as a doctor and I orking in the French Embassy Tley said I was a spy and put ht that was bad until after the Revolution when they sent otten that I exist Few have been known to complete their sentence at camp Two - O - One so I must die here, like everyone else, and it can’t be too soon’

’No, you ave up hope for ive it up for you, but always remember never to mention that hope to anyone; there are prisoners here who trade in loose tongues, when their reward can be nothing more than an extra piece of bread or perhaps a blanket Now Wladek, I a to put you on kitchen duty for aIt is the only chance that you have of not losing that leg, and I do not relish being the man who has to cut it off We don’t exactly have the latest surgical instru knife

Wladek shuddered

Doctor Dubien wrote out Wladek’s na, Wladek reported to the kitchens, where he cleaned the plates in freezing water and helped to prepare food that required no refrigeration After carrying logs all day, he found it a welcoe: extra fish soup, thick black bread with shredded nettles, and the chance to stay inside and keep war with the cook, although neither of thehim with a pronounced limp There was little Doctor Dubien could do in the absence of any real ress As the days went by, the doctor began to bef ri end Wladek and even to believe in his youthful hope for the future

They would converse in a different language eachin French, his native tongue

’In seven days tiuards will inspect your leg and I will not be able to keep you in the kitchens any longer So listen carefully, for I have decided upon a plan for your escape’

’Together, doctor,’ said Wladek ’Together’

’No, only you I ah I have dreamed about escape for over fifteen years, I would only hold you up

It will be enough for me to know someone else has achieved it, and you are the first person I’ve ever ht succeed!

Wladek sat on the floor in silence listening to the doctoes plan