Smakebit på Søndag; Beyond the Tracks av Michael Reit

Det er på tide med en ny Smakebit på Søndag, som Betraktninger og Flukten fra virkeligheten har ansvaret for.

Boka jeg vil ta for meg i dag er den historiske romanen Beyond the Tracks av Michael Reit, som forteller om Jacob Kagan, familien hans og bestevennen, og de alle bor i Berlin rett før andre verdenskrig. Da flere og flere jøder forsvinner under nattlige raid, vet de at de må komme seg vekk før de selv sitter i en lastebil på grunn av de nattlige raidene.

Smakebiten jeg skal ta for meg er fra togstasjonen i Berlin, da Jacob og bestevenne, samt familiene deres skal flykte fra Tyskland.

“Halt! Stop that man!” one of them shouted through the crowded hall. But most of the people in the station were Jewish and not about to help the SS. The young man was now close to the exit, and though the SS men were gaining on him, it became clear they wouldn’t catch him before he reached the doorway. 

One of them stopped and drew his pistol. His compatriot turned and quickly moved out of the way. 

A shot rang out. 

People screamed and dropped to the floor; everyone’s eyes turning to the sound of the shot. Jacob was on the floor, too, his hands covering his ears. 

The first shot missed its target but not its purpose—the young man paused, his face a mix of surprise and fear. 

The SS soldier adjusted his aim and issued another shot. 

The young man’s knee exploded with a sickening crunch. He fell to the floor, his body twitching. Blood and bones sprayed on the floor around him, and he screamed in agony, clutching the wound with both hands. 

The entire station went quiet but for the screams from the man on the floor. All eyes were on the two SS soldiers casually walking toward the stricken man.