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Anya leads the way out of the truck I aunfire going on around me Somewhere nearby a truck explodes

It is like being in the eye of a hurricane All around us trucks are rolling past, horses are clopping forward pulling wagons, soldiers are running, and we poor, starved Leningraders are looking for rides

At last I find the infir, dirty white tents spread out across a snowy field

Inside, it is no hospital It is a place for the dying and the dead That is all The s filth,

I dare not put Leo down for fear he’ll get worse It see for someone to help us

Finally, I find an oldOnly because he is wearing white do I approach him

“Please,” I say, reaching for hi up ”

The man turns to htly as he reaches for Leo I can see the boils on his fingers

He touches Leo’s forehead and then looks at me

It is a look I will never forget Thank God there are no words with the look “Get his “Maybe ”

I do not ask him to say more In fact, I don’t want him to

He hands me four white pills “Two a day,” he says “With clean water When did he eat last?”

I shake my head How can I say the words, tell the truth? It is iet him to eat

“Cherepovets,” is all he says, and then he turns and goes away At every step, people are reaching for hi for help

“Let’s go ”