Page 39 (1/2)

He had been told by the Baron of the great ships that crossed the high seas delivering their cargoes to foreign lands, but these were so ined, and they stood in a line as far as the eye could see

Stefan interrupted his thoughts ’See that one over there, the big green one; well, what you have to do is pick up a basket at the bottorain, cliet a ruble for every four trips you make Be sure you can count, Muscovite, because the bastard in charge of the gang will swindle you as soon as look at you and pocket the money for himself’

Stefan and Wladek spent the rest of the afternoon carrying - grain up the ladder They made twenty - six rubles between them After a dinner of stolen nuts, bread, and an onion they hadn’t intended to take, they slept happily in their carriage

Wladek was the first to wake the nexthis map

’What’s that?’ asked Stefan

’This is a route showing et out of Russia" ’What do you want to leave Russia for when you can stay here and team up with me?’ said Stefan ’We could be partners’

’No, I et to Turkey; there I will be a free man for the first time

Why don’t you come with me, Stefan?’

’I could never leave Odessa This is my home, the railway is where I live and these are the people I have known all ht be worse in the place you call Turkey But if that’s what you want, I will help you to escape because I kno to find out where every ship has co to Turkey?’ asked Wladek

’Easy We’ll get the information froive him a ruble!

’I’ll bet he splits the money with you’

’Fifty - fifty,’ said Stefan ’You’re learning fast, Muscovite’ And with that he leaped out of the carriage

Wladek followed hiain conscious of how easily other boys moved, and how he limped When they reached the end of the pier, Stefan took him into a small room full of dust - covered books and old timetables Wladek couldn’t see anyone there, but then he heard a voice fro, ’What do you want, urchin? I don’t have time to waste on you’

’So companion, Joe When is the next luxury cruise to Turkey?’

’Money up front,’ said an old man whose head appeared fro a sea in Wladek