of bread or perhaps a blanket. Now Wladek, I am going to put you on kitchen duty for a month and you must continue to report to me every morning. It 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 instruments here,' he added, staring at a large carving knife.
Wladek shuddered.
Doctor Dubien wrote out Wladek's name on a slip of paper. Next morning, 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 welcome change: extra fish soup, thick black bread with shredded nettles, and the chance to stay inside and keep warm. On one occasion he even shared half an egg with the cook, although neither of them could be sure what fowl had laid it. Wladek's leg mended slowly, leaving him with a pronounced limp. There was little Doctor Dubien could do in the absence of any real medical supplies except keep an eye on his progress. 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 each morning, but the old man most enjoyed speaking in French, his native tongue.
'In seven days time, Wladek, you will have to return to forest duty; the guards 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 am too old for such a long journey, and although 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 met who has convinced me that he might succeed!
Wladek sat on the floor in silence listening to the doctoes plan.
'I have, over the last fifteen years, saved two hundred rubles - you don't exactly get overtime as a Russian prisoner! Wladek tried to laugh at the camp's oldest joke. 'I keep the money hidden in a drug bottle, four fifty - ruble notes. When the time comes for you to leave, the money must be sewn into your clothes. I will have already done tins for you.'
'What clothesT asked Wladek.
q have a suit and a shirt I bribed from a guard twelve years ago when I still believed in escape. Not exactly the latest fashion, but they will serve your purpose!
Fifteen years to scrape together two hundred rubles, a shirt and a suit, and the doctor was willing to sacrifice them to Wladek in a moment.
Wladek never again in his life experienced such an act of selflessness.
'Next Thursday will be your only chance,' the doctor continued. 'New prisoners arrive by train at Irkutsk, and the guards always take four people from the kitchen to organise the food truck for the new arrivals.
I have already arranged with the senior cook' - he laughed at the word - 'that in exchange for some drugs you will find yourself on the kitchen truck It was not too hard. No one exactly wants to make the trip there and back - but you will only be making the journey there!
Wladek was still listening intently.
'When you reach the station, wait until the prisoners' train arrives.
Once they are all on the platform, cross the line and get yourself on to the train going to Moscow, which cannot leave until the prisoners' train comes in, as there is only one track outside the station. You must pray that with hundreds of new prisoners milling around the guards will not notice you disappear. From then on you're on your own. Remember if they do spot you, they will sheot you on sight without a second thought. There i only one last thing I can do for you. Fifteen years ago when I was brought here, I drew a map from memory of the route from Moscow to Turkey. It may not be totally accurate any longer, but it should be adequate for your purpose. Be sure to check that the Russians haven't taken over Turkey as well. God knows what they have been up to recently.
They may even control France for all I