SukritiThe Stranger
But the woman seemed to know Claire and she continued, “I’ve been searching for you for many years.” She understood from Claire’s expressions that she was confused. Claire said, “I don’t know you,” and the stranger replied, “But I do know you.” This woman was about to say something that will change Claire’s life forever. It was A message from Chaskel.
A Surprise Encounter
Claire’s expression changed when the woman took her father’s name. She has been looking for her for twenty years, the woman said, “I was there…” In the very moment, Claire knew everything was going to be changed. The woman explained that the day when she jumped off the train, this lady was on the train too.
Blessing
When Chaskel opened his eyes in the train, he desperately looked for his daughter and shouted, “Klärchen,” That’s what he used to call her. The people around him told him that she and her husband jumped off the train and the old man’s eyes shined out of joy. Even when he could hardly speak, everyone could see the joy on his face. And then he said to all…
An Announcement
He made an announcement in the train that if anyone ever makes out as a free person, he or she should give this message to his daughter that he died a happy father. He said he was the happiest person on the earth to listen that his daughter has escaped.
Reckoning
Chaskel Prowisor died on the way before the train reached to Auschwitz. He died of fever on the way. 20 years later, Claire was standing in a market and being told that her father passed away. His message finally reached to his daughter. She was glad that her father died in peace and that her decision to jump off wasn’t wrong but it made him proud. What came to her as the biggest relief was the fact that her father never faced the cruelty of Auschwitz.
The Attack On Convoy 20
Claire and Philippe were told that an hour after they jumped off the train, it was attacked by the Belgian Resistance who managed to save a number of people inside the train. Out of 1,631 people sent in that train, just 10 or 20 were able to jump off. Rest reached its destination around three days later on April 22, 1943. Out of these people on Convoy 20, only 153 were finally able to make it and this woman was one of the survivors.