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down, their backs to me. The little girl with the dolly sat on her knees near the door. I put my finger to my lips. She nodded. I lowered myself down off the car, trying not to make a sound. My chest thumped, remembering the guard pointing the gun at me.
    I stepped closer and stopped. A truck drove by somewhere outside, its lights momentarily sweeping under the car. Andrius stared off with a blue, battered face. He had swollen pillows for eyes. His shirt was covered in blood, his lips sliced. I knelt down beside him.
    “Can you walk?”
    “A little,” he said.
    I peeked out to see the guards. They stood in a group smoking, four cars down. I tapped lightly near the bathroom hole. The grouchy woman’s face appeared. Her eyes widened.
    “I have Andrius. We need to get him back on the train.”
    She stared at me.
    “Did you hear me?” I whispered. “You have to pull him up. Move!”
    Her face disappeared from the hole. I heard scuffling inside the car and glanced down to the guards. I slung Andrius’s bloody arm over my shoulder and grabbed him by the waist. We rose and inched toward the door. The gray-haired man hung his head over, signaling for us to wait. Andrius sagged on my shoulder, making my knees bend. I didn’t know how long I could hold him up.
    “NOW!” said the gray-haired man. I thrust Andrius toward the man who, together with the others, pulled him up.
    I peeked out at the guards. Just as I moved, they turned and began walking toward me. Desperate, I looked around. I grabbed on to the undercarriage of the train and lifted my legs up, suspended under the car. The sound of the boots came closer and emerged near the wheel. I closed my eyes. They were speaking in Russian. A matchstick hissed, and a glow appeared on the guard’s boot. They chatted in low voices. My arms began to shake, trying to hold on. Hurry.
    I hung there. My hands began to sweat. I was losing my grip. Leave. A deep burning washed through the fibers of my muscles. Their conversation continued. Please. I bit my lip. Move. A dog barked. The guards walked toward the sound.
    Mother and the gray-haired man pulled me up. I slumped against the open door, gasping for air. The little girl with the dolly put her finger to her lips and nodded.
    I stared at Andrius. Dried blood caked his teeth and the corners of his lips. His jaw was swollen. I hated them, the NKVD and the Soviets. I planted a seed of hatred in my heart. I swore it would grow to be a massive tree whose roots would strangle them all.
    “How could they do this?” I asked aloud. I looked around the train car. No one spoke. How could we stand up for ourselves if everyone cowered in fear and refused to speak?
    I had to speak. I’d write everything down, draw it all. I would help Papa find us.
    Andrius shifted his legs. I looked down at him.
    “Thanks,” he whispered.

15
    I WOKE WITH A START next to Jonas and Andrius. The door to our car had been closed and locked. People began to panic.
    The engines let out a hiss of steam.
    “Please don’t move unless you absolutely have to,” ordered Miss Grybas. “Make sure the bathroom area stays clear.”
    “Mrs. Book Lady? Will you tell us a story?” asked the girl with the dolly.
    “Mama,” whimpered a little voice, “I’m scared. Turn on the light.”
    “Did anyone bring a lantern?” someone asked.
    “Sure, and I have a four-course meal in my pocket, too,” said the bald man.
    “Mr. Stalas,” said Mother, “please, we’re all doing the best we can.”
    “Girl,” he commanded. “Look out that little slot and tell us what you see.”
    I moved toward the front of the car and hoisted myself up.
    “The sun is beginning to rise,” I said.
    “Spare us the poetry,” snapped the bald man. “What’s happening out there?”
    The train hissed again, then clanked.
    “NKVD officers are walking by the train with rifles,” I said. “There are some men in dark suits looking at the train cars.”
    We felt a jolt and the train