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helplessly as the young man rolled over in the dust. He came to his feet, his eyes wide with terror. He cried out, “Please—don’t kill me!” But the cossack, a huge man with white cross straps over his chest and a black fur shako, lifted his saber, laughed wildly, and brought it down with all his might. Reisa grew sick as the blood spurted from the falling victim. Babin kicked his legs and tried to stem the flow of crimson, but only for a moment, then grew very still.
    The cossack spotted the two young women and cried out loudly, “Here we are, comrades! Two young pigeons. I’ll take the tall one!”
    Reisa was paralyzed with fear as the broad-bodied cossack dismounted in one smooth motion and started toward her. She could not seem to move, but she was aware that other cossacks were coming.
    At that moment, Yelena gave her a shove. “Run, Reisa—run!” she cried. She threw herself at the huge cossack, and he grabbed her and began ripping at her clothing.
    â€œHo, a fighter! So much the better! I like spirit in a woman!”
    Reisa knew that Yelena had sacrificed herself to give her a chance. She tore her gaze away from the pair, whirled, and darted down the street. Heavy footsteps were behind her, but she was fleet of foot. As she ran, she was aware of the slaughter that went on all around her. The cossacks spared neither young nor old. She saw a child no more than two years old impaled on the saber of a wildly laughing soldier, and two elderly men wearing prayer shawls were cut down.
    Reisa had always been a fast runner, and now she ran with all her strength. The sounds of the heavy boots fell behind her, and she risked turning to see two large cossacks lumbering after her. Seeing her turn, one of them yelled, “You won’t get away—you Christ-killing Jew!”
    The taunt spurred Reisa, and she took a turn between two rows of houses. The woods lay close by, and she knew if she reached them, she would be safe. Her greatest fear was that men on horseback would chase her. The screams of terror and agony followed her, but as she reached the woods, she saw that she was not being pursued. The cossacks, she knew with a sickening certainty, had plenty of victims without her. She turned east and ran until the sounds of the dying faded, but she knew that everything had changed.
    They will come to our village—we must get away!
    She walked as fast as she could, and when she reached her house, she fell inside, almost unconscious. Jacob started up, his face filled with fear, and as she fell against him, she cried brokenly, “Grandfather—the soldiers. They have come!”
    Jacob grabbed her by the shoulders. “Is it a pogrom?” He listened as she poured out the story, her voice choked with fear.
    â€œWe must leave at once, Reisa,” Jacob said evenly. “I must go at once to the mayor.”
    Reisa wiped at tears and looked up at her grandfather. “Do you think he can protect us from the soldiers?”
    â€œNo, not even he can do that. He is a good man and has love for our people. We have talked of this terrible thing, and he has told me that if we are forced to flee he will buy all that we have—our land and all our possessions.”
    Reisa took a deep breath. “But what will we do, Zaideh? Where will we go where the soldiers cannot find us?”
    â€œWe will go to America. I have thought much about this, and I know we will be safe there. Now, listen to me carefully, Reisa. We must leave right away. The soldiers could come at any time.
    I will go at once to the mayor for the money, and I will return with Adrik Meshone. He will take us to the coast in his cart. While I am gone, you must pack for our journey. We will take only a few things, what we can put into the two trunks. All else I will sell to the mayor.”
    Reisa pulled herself up and stood straight. “I will have everything ready when you return,