Summary
On October 30, 1942, the Finnish police informed the commander of the Gestapo in neighboring Estonia, which they intended to hand over to them in the coming days, nine Jewish refugees.
About a week later, only eight Jewish refugees were handed over to the Nazis.
Where did the ninth Jew go?Y?
The code discovered by Nadav, an Israeli nature photographer, just before he froze to death in frozen Lapland, allows him and Heidi, his Finnish friend, to uncover the strange story surrounding the disappearance of the ninth Jew. The plot of the book slowly reveals the mystery surrounding this unknown affair, while chasing a mysterious treasure and a confrontation with the grandson of a Nazi colonel who was serving at the time in Finland. Will they discover the identity of the ninth Jew?
Chapter 8 – Sister countries
At the reception desk they were very excited when they found out that I was Nadav, the Israeli who got lost. It turns out that since last night, throughout the night and up until these very hours, search teams have been deployed in the area where my tracks were lost. Even a helicopter of the rescue forces searched the area yesterday evening and continues to do so this morning in an attempt to locate me.
The lady at the reception spoke excitedly into the phone mouthpiece and when she finished, she amazed me when she addressed me in Hebrew.
"I informed the police station that the loss was found and that you arrived safely at the hotel." She spoke Hebrew with a foreign accent and laughed out loud at the sight of my surprised face.
"What is going on here?" I asked surprised.
"You mean my Hebrew?" she asked with a smile. I nodded and she continued, "First of all, my name is Nina," she said and held out her hand to shake, "I lived in Israel for almost two years. I volunteered at Kibbutz Kfar Masrik in the north. Do you know me?"
"You must know," I answered, "and your good Hebrew is from there?"
"Mainly from there, but not only. I met my husband Zeev at Kibbutz and we try to speak Hebrew at home as well. We have two children who were born in Finland and we want them to be able to communicate with their grandparents who live in Israel. We have been living in Rovaniemi since we returned to Finland."
"You just happen to be on duty right now?" I asked, because the coincidence was getting too much.
"No, absolutely not by chance," she answered, "when I heard that an Israeli who was supposed to get to the hotel got lost, I asked to accept this shift and try to help. The reception here became the operations room of the search." saying.
A touch on my shoulder interrupted my conversation with Nina.
"Nadav, I have to move, I had the honor and the pleasure of meeting you and saving you."
Oh, I forgot for a moment about my savior. My grandmother stepped back to say goodbye to Heidi and to make sure we kept in touch. I liked this corner and I don't even know if it is available.
"I would be very happy to meet you, Nadav. I really enjoyed the trip together. By the way, I am not married and I don't have a boyfriend," she said with a smile, as if she read my thoughts.
We exchanged phone numbers and then, without any warning, she planted a kiss on my cheek and went on her way.
I was so surprised I didn't have time to respond, but I blushed and smiled awkwardly like a teenage boy.
"Judging by my meetings this morning, Israel and Finland are twin countries." I said to Nina, laughing and shaking my head towards the door from which Heidi came out.
"It's quite true," she answered, "the Finns love Israel."
"Anyway," I said, "it's a good idea to update our photo group guide that I'm back safely. Is it possible to plug my smartphone in?"
Jonas was really excited when he heard my voice.
"Nadav! You can't even imagine what a relief it is for me to hear your voice. I was sure you were frozen to death under some tree. All night I've been trying to figure out where you've gone. You have no idea what I've been through since I left you alone there on the snowy hill with your reindeer . But leave it now, we'll have enough time to talk about it. Go have a good breakfast and wait for me in the hotel lobby. I'll be with you in an hour." he said and hung up.
Jonas' advice to thaw in the sauna was worth its weight in gold. I sat naked, absorbing the heat into my body with pleasure, feeling my bones slowly melt and understanding why the sauna is an integral part of the Finnish lifestyle.
I sat and replayed the dramatic events of the last day. This time I really escaped by the skin of my teeth. In the operations in which I participated in the Lebanon War and after it, I found myself more than once in danger of my life, but then the risk was justified. This time I almost lost my life because of a stupid insistence on getting another shot.
In the hours when I was alone in the cold and in the dark, I never stopped trying to understand what exactly happened and how exactly I got into this situation. I hoped that the conversation with Jonas would solve the mystery.
I was not wrong.
"Do you have an explanation for how I lost you in such a short time?" I asked Jonas after he pounced on me with an uncharacteristic hug for Finns, looked at me and relaxed.
"I didn't sleep all night with worry," he said.
"Sorry," I said, "but I really don't understand how it happened."
"I think I understand."
"Well?"
"After we split up, we surfed pretty slowly so you could easily catch up with us. When you didn't come, I started to worry. We stopped, I asked the group to wait, and I retraced my steps, to where I left you."
"How long did it take you back?"
"After no more than ten minutes. I was surprised when I didn't run into you on the way back and it was even more strange that you weren't there anymore. I scanned the place and then discovered ski tracks that weren't ours."
Bingo, I thought. That explains everything!
"I really remember that when we reached this hill, just then another group left the place." I said
"Very true," said Jonas, "their tracks started not far from the point from which we left, but headed in a slightly different direction."
"I just accidentally skied over the tracks of the other team's skis."
"Exactly," said Jonas, "when I realized that, I decided to catch up with you, but then a strong wind began to blow and raise a dusting of snow. When this happens, all traces are erased. I decided not to give up in the hope of catching up with you before you moved away, but before long I did not know in which direction The sun started to set and I had to go back to the rescue team. I didn't understand why you weren't calling. It was a little over an hour before it got dark. They launched a helicopter and searched . Unfortunately there wasn't much time left and it was getting dark. Ground rescues started scanning but to no avail. I was sure I had lost you."
I noticed the saucer in his eyes and we both stood up and hugged for long minutes. I understood the excitement that gripped him. It is unprofessional to guide a group of hikers to lose one of the group members. If something were to happen to me, Jonas would lose his work permit.
"Now it's your turn. Tell me what happened to you?" asked for
I ordered coffee, we sat down and I explained to him the sequence of events. I described the moment when I realized that I was lost and the moment when I realized that my life was in danger. I described the despair that fell upon me and the strength I gathered again after I remembered the "Siso" he had told me about.
"The moment I noticed the cabin by the light of the northern lights, standing there at the top of a hill at the edge of the birch forest, was my fate. It happened a second before I gave up," I said excitedly.
"We were very lucky," Jonas patted my shoulder.
"I realized that such surviving huts are scattered in isolated areas of wild nature. Who builds them and who do they belong to?" I asked.
"That's right. They are intended for the use of travelers who come to such places and need shelter due to severe weather conditions. Volunteers of nature conservation organizations set them up and maintain them. Luckily for you, you came across one."
"Very lucky indeed," I said and then remembered the mysterious address I had discovered and told him about.
"Very interesting," Jonas straightened up, his face wanting, "can you show her to me?"
"Of course. I'll finish the coffee, go up to the room and get the camera. The letters are really unclear, but I hope they can be restored," I said and took a last sip of the coffee, "What's going to happen now?" I asked.
"The photo group dispersed and everyone went their separate ways. They were very worried about you, but I left messages for everyone that you are fine. We were very lucky Nadav. It could have ended in disaster. At any moment a police officer will arrive here to question us and then we can go back to normal life. I hope That the picture because of which you almost lost your life will justify the risk you took."
Hmmm… he's right. Winning a prestigious award would somewhat justify my idiotic behavior, I thought to my self.
The book was translated into English, published as a printed and digital book
A printed book including a dedication and the author's signature, can be obtained from her at the address: [email protected]. It can be purchased at "Hebrew", "Bibox", "Stimetsky Digital" and "Amazon".
From the review:
"An amazingly beautiful historical novel...one of the best books I've read recently" - Shmuelik Katlan 2.5.24
"A significant book, highly recommended!...touched me in a way that left me with a lot of thoughts." – Ricky Baruch, 9.05.24
"It's all here... mystery, adventure, suspense, history. Want to read!" –Rinat Elazar Peretz 8.5.24