Can we forget?
THE FED ONE
- Move from the window. - Why do they do that?
Move. The guard will see you.
It's insane.
I won't let you.
Listen, I don't like anyone crossing my path.
Move from the window.
Do you hear?
We'll die. He's stronger.
Don't mess with this.
He's stronger.
Leave him. He's not serious.
- I've got a carrot. We'll share it. - It's forbidden.
It's forbidden!
If your head is empty, I care about mine. Shut up!
And I looked and behold a pale horse.
And his name that sat on him was Death.
You won't have to look elsewhere for it. It's right here.
It's close.
And Hell followed with him.
And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth
to kill with sword, and with hunger,
and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Amen.
You're crazy.
You'll destroy us.
- I'll call the guards. Guards! Guards! - Shut up!
Shut up.
Hurry up, he'll come any minute now.
If we don't kill him he'll kill us. There's no hope.
See how many of us are left. It's getting fewer every day.
And we have to kill him.
- We have to. - And what when you kill him?
- Where are you going to hide him? - We've got plan for everything.
Lie down and sleep.
I won't. He's stronger.
It's over, Biro. It's too late for talking.
It's over, I know.
Both of us.
All of us.
- We're all done for. - Hurry up! Don't wait!
Should I come with you?
Watch out for him.
I'll do it.
There's goes Jaki. Let's lie down.
He must have entered by now.
Why isn't he coming back?
What's taking him so long?
We'll all die. Biro was right.
We shouldn't have done it...
You sleep, angels?
Get up!
Attack again.
Attack.
I told you to attack me.
Attack.
He's not in the room.
He's gone.
They'll come for us! They'll kill us all!
Listen... Here they come...
You've ruined us.
- Let our blood falls on your head! - Don't scream, you fool.
Why?
- Why do you think he won't snitch? - He won't.
He knows they'll take him with us.
Do you hear that?
- He won't snitch on us. - He won't snitch on us.
He'll destroy us himself.
He...
He killed him.
You carved his cross!
This bastard is to blame for his death. He walked about the place last night.
- He's a werewolf! Kill him! - Keep back!
Leave the bastard alone. Lets kill him, Apostle.
He carves crosses for everybody. Every empty bed has his sign.
Look, cross, cross, cross, cross.
Cross! When he carves it for somebody, that someone dies!
You singled Jaki out. You made his cross.
Jaki offered himself.
Jaki has saved himself.
The worst awaits us.
Here he comes.
What about doing something? What about writing a complaint? It's done.
We'll say they treat us unlawfully.
Nothing like this happens anywhere. Let the command protect us. - Go away, fool.
Let the command protect us...
People... Let the command protect us.
Stand up!
Blanket? Where's his blanket?
Who took it?
No one, of course.
- I didn't mean to steal it, sir. - Right, but to warm your backside.
I'm old and I'm cold.
There.
Take the blanket to the warehouse. It belongs to the state.
There.
- I've nothing to do with it, sir. - Others have, then?
The bench.
Lets get to our work.
You.
The rest, over there.
How much is 7 times 7?
For your information
I've forgotten about last night. Tonight, an additional half hour of gymnastics
and we'll end it with that.
He's answering for morning gymnastics.
If he answers all the questions, you'll stay here until work.
Why are you afraid? You see it's easy.
No...
I can't.
Don't ask me.
I'll know nothing.
Ask him sir, he knows. When we ask him he knows everything.
Meeting in 15 minutes.
- Stop crying! - Why don't you beat up him?
You always sit together, sons of bitches!
Are you crazy, man? Get on to gymnastics.
Lively.
Song.
Lively, lively, manly.
They were cleaner before.
To work.
No one eats for free.
Get up. What are you waiting for?
He won't get up anymore.
I'll go to the toilet after.
I don't like meeting these from 18c
it's like seeing dead people.
We're nothing else.
Say, Apostle.
Has anyone thought about killing Gusti?
To try. - Okay professor, are you crazy or playing crazy?
I'll think about it nevertheless.
Lets go, poet.
This is for you. Take it.
- Hide it. - No, I don't want your bread.
Don't return it, don't.
If I can take it now, I'll take it further.
It's hardest for me now, you know.
Why did you carve me a cross?
Image how beautiful it'll be when trees grow here
and in the middle a pool. The commander sits in it and reads your complaint.
I'll break your head with the shovel.
One could hear artillery and the field was full of liberators.
We're running away from the camp, we're also in the field,
we fought, we rebelled.
It's all shit.
And you dream, it's good.
- Apostle, what's with our organization? - Why do you ask?
- Dugi says it doesn't exist anymore. - Ignore him, I decide.
You shouldn't cave in, Apostle.
They say that the commandant has a beautiful wife.
But nobody saw her except one.
And he died immediately after.
We were in the same circus before war I was stronger than him.
I was an athlete, just like his father.
I'll tell them,
let them kill me.
I'll eat shit but I'll hold onto one more hour of my life.
How are you doing Professor?
There's a word, but I can't remember.
They'll deport us tonight.
This one can't live without news.
I'll remember.
You have one more obligation for today.
We made a deal this morning, half an hour of additional gymnastics.
How can you behave like this with us?
Aren't you in the camp as well?
But some difference between me and you still exists.
You're tickling me.
I'll kill him if he starts talking to me.
I don't care what'll happen tomorrow, tonight or in half an hour.
As a boy, I went to the most expensive schools...
I had the best teachers and pedagogues.
Maths was a simple game to me
7 thousand times 7 million
times hundreds and hundreds of billion.
They are good. Those from the other barracks.
They just work and nothing else.
And die. Just those two things.
That's stupid.
That short span.
When they brought us we waited for hours on that clearing there.
I don't know why, but I made a few steps and approached your group.
I actually smuggled myself.
And hid.
I should've stayed with those on the other side.
Wrong side...
Who knows where Jaki's soul is?
In a concentration camp.
I guess there's a camp in heaven.
If we have to die
I'd like to die as Jaki.
Jaki was strong and we are weak.
Here.
Take it.
What? You're giving him bread not to carve the cross?
What do you want? Why are you following me?
- You said you'll lead us? - There's nothing to lead for.
- What? What? There's no organization? - Quiet, you fool. You'll awake Gusti.
Apostle, I remembered.
What?
I remembered the words and everything.
I know how we'll kill Gusti.
Lets leave that professor.
Seriously now, I know how we'll kill him.
I know everything. What do you know?
We knew too.
This one, that one there, and me.
We here organized and what did we do?
I was in charge and surrendered first. I licked the boots of Gusti.
When Jaki moved, we got scared. We called him back.
There's no hope.
We are weak.
We'll be gone in a couple of days.
Just like the snail that guy just ate.
It's not like that.
A man
is a great force.
The greatest.
Nobody knows a greater force than man.
Man is an intelligence.
An intelligence in the universe.
Man is... a creator.
Man is a god.
He created god,
in his image.
Professor, don't talk nonsense.
Don't listen to him, Apostle. He's crazy. We'll all die.
And you Professor, you're a bastard.
You stole a blanket from Jaki.
He was dead.
What did the Professor say?
I didn't listen to him.
What did you draw?
I don't remember exactly, Jaki had it on his arm.
It'd be nice to slaughter Gusti.
And throw him in the pit.
There'd be no gymnastics,
maths or singing anymore.
Except foolishness we need strength professor.
And we have none.
- We'll make it. - How?
Dugi was strong.
He said it himself. He was stronger than Gusti.
Are you?
I was, but long ago.
He's stronger than me now.
He's not stronger. You're malnourished.
What do you mean?
You'll be the fed one.
What will I be?
The fed one.
We'll all save some of our food
and give it you, to make you strong.
And when you get strong,
you'll kill him.
Do you want to?
She's still there.
That's our death.
Who sees her
has to die.
Maybe she came to help us.
Maybe she's a Christian.
There were Christians even among the Romans.
Lets go to her.
We've nothing to lose.
- Let's try. - Why did we run at all?
Let's go. We'll say what's Gusti's been doing to us.
She'll help us. She's got good eyes.
What are we waiting for?
She's leaving.
Is she still there?
Here she comes.
That book...
the drawing...
that's Jaki's God.
What's he doing? Support him.
Bring water quickly.
What are you doing, cattle?
He hanged himself.
He bent his legs to hang himself.
You'll pay for this.
His nerves got to him.
Why didn't you leave me to die?
You will, damned Jew,
but remember, I decide.
It's only I who decide about everything.
And about the time of your death.
Eat slowly,
one has to chew first.
One killed himself here yesterday.
He just jumped into the hole and drowned. They didn't try to save him.
Wait a second.
I apologize.
- I'm sorry. - Go away shithead.
- You thought there with Gusti. - Everything has to be prepared well.
Gusti is working again.
- He's already answered 6 questions. - Quiet there!
Do you want to go without lunch?
24 plus 13 minus 5?
32.
86 times 3?
258.
Alright.
Give the lunch.
You saved them from gymnastics but you'll do it yourself.
Because you're cocky.
May I do it right now?
Now?
You may, you may.
Enough!
Stop singing.
And gymnastics.
What?
What are you waiting for? Into the barrack.
Here, take it.
Give everything to him.
Take ours too, we want to join in.
Take theirs too, the time is near.
It either him or us.
10 days more.
Or maybe 7. You just eat, I'm counting the days.
Here, take it. I've been keeping this from the start.
And two eagle wings were given to a woman
to fly away to the desert, her haven,
where she would, away from serpent, feed
for a time,
and two times
and half of time.
Get out, you bastards, hurry up.
Some tried to run away from the pit.
They've been looking for them the whole afternoon.
Live happily!
They are taking every 10th.
Stand in my place.
Move fast.
You, come here with me.
- Why, sir? - Don't be afraid, I won't harm you.
We'll take a walk.
There are only 19 of us left.
Why are you telling me?
I didn't kill them!
Old men are fed with nice things,
white fried bread,
poached veal,
young beans,
and heaps of fruit.
If I could only survive until Gusti's death.
Enough! Lets go to work.
Keep watch.
Come on. Attack.
Why did you trip me up?
Gusti will trip you too.
You're not Gusti, it's him.
Him and me and
here and there, Gusti's everywhere.
You're making two mistakes
you're prolonging your attack and second, why are you shouting?
I couldn't help it.
It's no good.
That's a warning.
Play weak and powerless.
When you attack use force.
It'll be too late for him and he'll have a knife in his throat.
In the heart. In the heart. The heart is safer.
I'm not strong enough yet.
I can feel it.
We'll feed you. You'll get stronger.
Lets try again.
Stop!
I can't. Go get another two, I'll keep watch.
I knew your intentions.
One has to persist.
Persist...
Eat. I left this for you.
If you don't eat
you won't be on the food list anymore.
I want to see
how he's going to kill Gusti.
Dugi will
revenge me.
Did you see, poet?
You almost choked me.
I feel I could kill him now.
We have to wait, not much longer.
We can't leave anything to chance.
We have to be completely sure.
Listen here,
we'll attack him in his room before dawn.
- Everyone is less careful then. - And when we kill Gusti,
we'll ask to be transferred to the stone pit.
We'll organize an escape.
Poet?
Let's go.
It's time.
Everyone's asleep.
It's better. We'll wake them later.
He's not here. He's gone.
- What? - He's gone. - He must've sensed it.
- He's sleeping at her place. - She knew we're getting deported.
Damn her.
We aren't working for a third day.
- We're being punished. - It's not our fault. Who'll take us?
- We thought about going ourselves. - And you'd be our leader?
I could be at first, until they put someone in charge.
They'll notice us. It's no good without a leader.
Perhaps you're right.
Lets go to work.
What are you doing here? Go to your barracks. Let's work.
What happened?
Gusti's in there.
- He's back? - Yes, he is.
Why is he laughing?
You wouldn't recognize him.
- He got what he wanted. - I'll puff him like this.
He'll see into whose hands he's fallen.
- Get him. - We'll kill him.
He's gone. He's there. Not in here. He's there.
We'll find him.
He's inside.
Up there.
Here he is!
We've got him!
You bastard!
It's not enough!
You had to take our fed one.
Bastard.
Stop, I said.
Somebody betrayed us.
Why are you looking at me?
Did I ask you something?
Tell who betrayed us.
Maybe it's you!
Get back.
He'll talk.
I'm against that, Apostle.
He could denounce any one of us, out of pure spite.
Let him say, even out of spite.
Why are you bothered about him talking?
No, Apostle,
you can't be serious?
You don't think I could...
He's guilty for all our evil and he wants to tear us apart.
Enough, stop.
Enough!
We shouldn't kill him.
We need to give him life.
Like the one we have.
He'll die slowly.
Mister lover, brought back to hell.
The Goddess had enough of him
and threw him from Olympus into hell.
Dugi's back! He's alive!
How come they let you go?
- See. - They questioned you?
Not much. Almost nothing.
Why did they take you?
We agreed not to kill him now.
Let him live like us.
Let him die slowly.
Bench?
Lets get to work, Gusti.
Come on.
How much is 7 times 7?
49.
Great.
You've got 7 questions left.
Shall we continue?
I can't. Don't ask me, sir.
Half an hour of additional gymnastics.
Look beast,
you'll have a taste of how it used to be for us.
We have to do gymnastics too?
You're the new leader?
You see,
I became the leader.
Why are you afraid?
We're going to be fine now.
The leader is our friend, we fed him.
Aren't you Dugi, our fed one?
You can't
forget us.
You're ours.
You're a traitor, Dugi.
And what would you be if they chose you?
A traitor.
A meeting in front of the barracks.
Don't be cruel to us.
Don't Dugi.
What should I be, Professor?
Be ours.
Those are your friends.
This is Mali,
Apostle, Biro.
We all suffered, Dugi.
I said, a meeting.
You're one huge pile of garbage.
Meeting.
At least I don't have to share food.
We have a new fed one.
New contingent.
They haven't stop coming since morning.
What did you say Professor?
Intelligence in the universe?
I know, I know,
you're all disgusted by me.
Nobody hates you here anymore, Gusti.
We can't hate anyone.
Not even Dugi.
If only I could...
They'll judge one day for this.
They'll accuse individuals...
perhaps even whole nations.
But one should accuse all.
All we call morality and civilization.
Where are you going, Professor?
I'm going to ask them to burn me.
I, only I, could destroy...
Eat.
Burned in crematorium, 1943.
Killed for the purpose of medical experiments, 1944.
Killed in a gas chamber, 1944.
Hanged after an unsuccessful escape attempt, 1943.
Survived concentration camp. Lives under different name.
Translated by endrju for KG