15 for 15 Contest --- Closed

Hungary - 1945

Gabor scanned the crowded rail yard. The bombs had displaced so many people, and with the trains virtually useless since the tracks were destroyed, this was where the homeless congregated. At least there was a semblance of shelter for those who wanted to fight for it.

Gabor needed to find his father's friend. Although Zolton still had his apartment, his family had said he would be here. Zolton was a good man, and he knew he could trust his judgment, but with all these people would he be able to find him? He was ready to give up when he heard a voice behind him.

“Why Gabor, what brings you here?” Zolton pulled the boy into the shadows of an abandoned rail car. “You should be home safe in bed.”

“I was looking for you, Zolton. The guns, they woke me. I think they are getting closer.”

“They are. It is true; the allies are coming."

"Finally, our salvation." Another man stepped out from between the cars.

Gabor looked over at him. With effort, he greeted him politely."Good evening, Lajos."

Lagos raised a bottle in response. "You should go home, boy; it is not safe for you here. We were having a ... discussion. Leave us, and let the men talk."

Gabor straightened his shoulders, and raised his chin. “I am the man of the house now. I need to find safety for my mother and sisters.”

“Safety? What can a kisfiú like you do to keep your family safe?” Lajos took a swig of pálinka and then brandished it in front of the boy. “And safe from what, the Allies?” Foolish kisfiú, the allies are our liberators.”

Gabor clenched his fists. “I am more a man than you, Lajos. My mother and sisters are not homeless lingering in this caravan that will never move.”

“Why you kölyök, how dare you talk to an elder like that.You are just like your father” He smashed the empty bottle and advanced on the youth, but Gabor stood his ground.

Despite the chills that danced up his spine making his hair stand on end, Gabor looked the burly man in the eyes. “I am not afraid of you, Lajos. I have no fight with you. I may only be twelve, but I know that I must protect my family.”

“Calm down, Lajos.” Zolton put his hand on the older man’s shoulder. “He may just be a boy, but he has shown his worth since the disappearance of Tibor. He has the right to stand in his place during these discussions.”

“Thank you, Zolton.” Gabor rolled his shoulders to ease the tension. “I have heard the Russians will take this quarter, and our lives may be in danger.”

“This, I have heard also, Gabor. That is just what we were discussing.” Zolton gestured to Lajos. “He does not agree, but it is of grave concern for me.”

“Fools, both of you, go then, see what good it does you.” Lajos leaned in closer to Gabor and spoke quietly. “You, I will deal with later.” As he strode away, he flung one more warning over his shoulder “By trying to leave, you reinforce your own doom. Better to stay, and work with our liberators.”

“I am glad he is gone.” Gabor turned back to Zolton. “So what should we do?”

“I am taking my family across the Alps to Austria. We leave tonight. I believe the Russians will be here by morning. You are welcome to join us.”

“We will. Where shall we meet?”

“I will come and get you. Take only what you can carry. Now hurry, I will be there in an hour.”

“We will be ready.” Planning his appeal to his mother, Gabor ran through the camp. He knew it would be hard to convince her of the move. She would be reluctant to leave Magyarország, but he had to be successful. As he turned the corner, he skidded to a stop when he saw Lajos leaning against the remaining wall of a bombed building cleaning his nails with a knife.

“So kisfiú, we meet again. In the absence of your father, I think I must teach you some manners.”

“Leave me be, Lajos. I need to get to my family; we are leaving in an hour. I do not want to fight with you.”

“Don’t worry, I will make this quick.” Running his finger across the knife blade, Lajos stepped out of the shadows. Lowering his head, Gabor ran into him. As he caught him off-guard, the knife fell and Gabor grabbed it, but Lajos kicked him and sent him sprawling on the ground. Stepping on Gabor’s wrist, he smiled as he heard the crack of the bone. Gabor bit his lip, refusing to scream. He kicked at his assailant as Lajos took the knife from the lax hand.

Lajos leaned into the boy, and grinned. “Not much good to your family, are you? So kölyök, who is the man now?”

“What kind of man fights someone smaller than him? I have more honor, therefore I am the man.”

"Just like your father, more honor than common sense. It was his downfall too.

As the knife slid between his ribs, Gabor prayed Zolton would protect his family.



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Hungarian words
kisfiú - small boy
pálinka - an alcoholic beverage - fruit brandy
kölyök - brat
Magyarország - Hungary (the name that Hungarians [Magyars] prefer)