The air was frigid but inmate hearts were colder. Another trainload began expelling a bewildered and terrified cargo while Sarah dragged bodies from the shower by the arms and across the ground. Being ordered by a guard, Naomi approached and bent down to the feet of the corpse Sarah dragged. She recognized this dead woman who was new to the camp. It still had muscle and fat on the body.
Beyond weary, Naomi took a deep breath and the two woman lifted and tossed the body onto a pile of death. Except one of the feet slipped for Naomi’s grasp. The torso landed on the corner of the pile and tumbled awkwardly to the ground. Landing face down, a hollow thud resounded when the forehead slammed against the concrete.
Sarah cursed inwardly as she heard one of the guards approaching and screaming insults. Because they didn’t get the body onto the pile, there would be one additional exertion to their bankrupt energies. Again, they bent down and took hold of the extremities. This time they paused an extra beat to ensure firm holds and muster an additional ounce of strength. Then, ignoring the shouts of the guards, both women lifted and swung in unison and the body flew with a perfect arc onto the top of the pile. Another one down. Still an infinite number to go. It would never end. The supply was continuously replenished.
Scanning the train passengers now standing in front of the vacant boxcars, The Nazis always chose the strongest for work details. The weakest adults and youngest children were doomed. Sarah noted a large number of children. She was happy to know there would be lighter loads in the near future when she cleared the showers of bodies after they were gassed.
Screams drew Sarah’s eyes to a woman being dragged to one side by two guards. She struggled against them as two youngsters, screaming in fear, toddled toward their mother. One child lost its balance and bent at the waist to catch himself. The other continued to mommy. A guard grabbed that child’s hand and pulled it away. Fully righted and balanced, the first continued on. Both needed their mother’s comfort in this obscene cesspool. A booming crack split the air and he slammed to the ground dead.
The gunshot from an officer’s pistol momentarily froze the all who witnessed the scene. Enraged, the mother wrenched free from the hands encircling her. She ran five steps toward the her lifeless first born when a rifle butt split her bottom lip and broke three teeth. She fell into a heap in the dirt. The guards allowed two women to help her to her feet and back to her designated section.
Sarah saw it all with weary uncaring eyes. Eleven months of this hell stole the heart from her chest and cast it into the deepest sea. The body was alive but her spirit was a corpse. This was the day Sarah realized her heart and soul were dead.
