JOURNEYS Mennonite Stories of Faith and Survival in Stalins Russia, John B. Toews, 1998

ht up with us. They too cast their bundles aside and joined the silent protest. When the soldiers with guns in hand threatened to open fire some of the prisoners bared their chests and, as an ultimate pro¬ test against the prevailing tyranny, invited them to open fire. They preferred to be shot rather than endure a slow, agonizing death along this wilderness path. One of the oldest men in the group gently informed the threatening soldiers that if they persisted in their actions they would only be removing dead bodies from this MEMOIRS OF ARON WARKENTIN 187 site. Everyone sat down and waited to see what the guards would do. We ninety-five Germans were also grouped together and waited with the rest.... It seemed everyone was overwhelmed by the prevailing silence. Even the shouting soldiers with their guard dogs fell silent. Finally a young guard saved the day. He addressed us as fathers and brothers and acknowledged we and they were the victims of evil circumstances. They like us were not here of their own free will. They too had loved ones to whom they desired to return to. They like us were also not free. Once the people who inflicted all this evil upon us and exiled many thousands of innocent people were no more, we could all return home as rightful citizens. With a heartfelt tender¬ ness he begged us to gather our things together and walk one more hour to the warm barracks and evening meal which awaited us. His kindness struck a responsive chord. Those who moments before willingly faced death were among the first to praise the young man .... We were able to get some rest and the prospect of a good night s sleep and hot food appealed to all. After an hours march we reached the barracks, some of which were finished, while two still needed work on the interior. Our supper was cooked in large pots each holding ten to fifteen pails. Many of us missed spoons and bowls, but hunger has a way of compensating for the lack of utensils. There were many large birch logs strewn about which provided ample material for our personal needs. Unfortu¬ nately we did not sleep as comfortably as the young guard promised. Only a few found accommodation in the barracks, the rest slept un¬ der the open sky. A large fire was lit for warmth and for drying clothes. Our group was fortunate enough to occupy one of the completed barracks. It smelled of fresh wood and oil. The frame and roof were held together by axe fashioned notches. The work was hurriedly done just prior to our arrival for debris lay everywhere. After we covered ourselves with blankets as well as we were able, I lapsed into a deep melancholy. This place was my new home. Here I would dissipate my best energies. What will the future hold? What will the next day bring? Whatever this desolate place held in terms of grief and afflic¬ tion vanished momentarily when my exhausted body succumbed to a comforting sleep. Amid this crowded barrack I commended myself