The Last Paradise

He gave a wry smile. Anyone would envy him in his place. In America a wonderful life awaited him, filled with comfort and enjoyment at the side of a rich, intoxicatingly beautiful woman. A wonderful but empty life.

The whole next day passed without any sign of Yuri and Ivan Zarko. While they waited, Elizabeth huddled next to Jack. She barely spoke, but held on to him, as if she knew he was her only support. At intervals she would ask him whether they would be happy in America, and he said yes without conviction. The hours passed slowly, each of them searching the faces of the others for a glimmer of hope. By midafternoon, they gave up waiting. All they could hear outside was the howling blizzard.

On the third day, Ivan returned with Yuri. They arrived at dawn. Jack had been awake for hours, unable to sleep. Hearing them arrive, he separated himself from Elizabeth and rushed to open the door that he’d jammed shut with a pole. The two Russians quickly came in and woke the rest of the group. Ivan and Yuri told them that they had to begin their escape as soon as possible, as OGPU patrols were now searching the forest for fugitives. They all hurried to get ready. They gathered their belongings and left the cabin in the direction of the outbuilding where the Ford Model A was hidden.

While the rest of them loaded the vehicle, Jack stayed behind to make final preparations for their escape. Ivan Zarko gave him the camera, a map with directions to the river port of Lyskovo, and the name and address of the contact who would hide them.

“He will arrange your passage. In Stalingrad, Oleg will be waiting for you. An old acquaintance. He’ll identify himself and keep you hidden until you can get on the next boat.”

“Thank you for everything. You and Yuri have been true friends.”

“You’ve paid us well for it. Here. The three passports.”

Jack embraced him. He knew the old man was taking risks that no money could compensate him for. When they separated, he put his hand in his overcoat. “What we agreed for the camera and everything else.” Jack handed him four rolls of bills. “And the six other passports?”

Ivan Zarko shook his head.

“All right. We’ll manage,” replied Jack, though he knew that those without passports would never escape.

He climbed into the car and turned the key. Yuri opened the door to the granary. Jack was in a daze, staring down the track and waiting for Natasha to appear at the last moment. A few seconds passed. Elizabeth urged him to start the car. Jack seemed to wake up. He stepped on the button next to the accelerator, and the engine roared into life. He was about to accelerate, when Ivan approached to say good-bye. As Jack lowered the window, Yuri dipped his big hand in a pocket, took out the medallion that Jack had given him to pass on to Natasha, and returned it to him.

“I’m sorry,” said Yuri. “She had decided to come.”

“What?” He thought he had misheard.

“Natasha. She told me there was no need for you to part with your medallion, because she’d already decided that she’d go with you to America.”

“She was going to come? So where is she?” He turned off the engine.

Yuri lowered his head. “We waited for her, but she didn’t show up.”

“What do you mean she didn’t show up? I don’t understand. She agreed to meet you and didn’t arrive? Damn it! Can you explain to me what happened?” He got out of the vehicle.

Yuri avoided eye contact.

“I’m asking you what happened!” He grabbed Yuri by the front of his coat, and the Russian searched for a sign from Zarko of what to do.

The old man approached Jack and made him let go of Yuri. “I warned you not to tell him,” he said to his nephew. He spat on the ground, as if the earth were to blame. Then, biting his lips, he looked at Jack. “They arrested her when she was coming out of her house. It was Smirnov. They’re sending her to Siberia.”

The echo of some distant barking tore Jack from his bewilderment. He didn’t think twice. He asked Joe Brown to take his place at the wheel. Joe didn’t understand. When he told them to leave without him, none of his friends could believe what they were hearing. But Jack remained firm. His eyes were bright with determination.

Neither the Daniels family’s pleading nor Elizabeth’s tears persuaded him. Jack remained outside the car and asked Miquel Agramunt to take care of everyone. “Only you can save them. Don’t let me down.” He embraced the man as if he were saying good-bye to the brother he never had.

Agramunt agreed to do as he said.

Jack gave him the three passports, the instructions for using the camera, and a roll of bills. The barking was growing closer. They could almost smell the dogs. Jack moved away from the car, and they were about to leave when Elizabeth opened the door and climbed out. “I’m staying with you,” she said, trying to hide her tears.

Jack shook his head. “It’s too dangerous. You have to go with them. I’ll catch up with you later.”

“You won’t make it. Do you think I didn’t see you give Miquel the passports?”

“Because of that? Don’t be silly.” He took George McMillan’s passport from his coat and showed it to her. “Do you really think I was going to stay in this filthy country?”

Elizabeth glanced at the document. Something told her not to believe him. “Jack, I’m begging you, get in the car. We’ll be happy . . .” Her red, swollen eyelids hid the beauty of her eyes.

“I can’t.”

“Sure you can! For heaven’s sake, Jack! Do you think I haven’t seen you? It’s because of that woman, right?”

“I have to try.”

“And what will you do? Shout from the rooftops that she’s innocent? Goddamn it, Jack, don’t you see? As soon as you show up, Viktor will kill you.”

“I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I can’t leave her.”

“Just think for a moment! When I asked you to help my uncle, you told me yourself it was hopeless,” she implored him. “The Soviets won’t believe you. They wouldn’t believe you even if Viktor screamed a confession at them.” She collapsed to the ground.

Jack was silent. He knew Elizabeth was right, but something inside him more powerful was compelling him to stay. He helped the young woman up and made her get in the car. He kissed her hand and closed the door.

“Go! Drive!”

Joe Brown obeyed. He stepped on the gas, and the vehicle skidded before straightening and heading off down the icy track. When the car was just a dot in the distance, Jack turned to Ivan Zarko, searching for his comprehension, but the man groaned like an old woman.

“What are you trying to do? You know that passport’s worthless,” he said.

“I know.” He tore it into pieces and threw it in a ditch.

“So what’re you going to do?”

Jack let the wind whip his face. “First, make sure you get those people to Odessa alive and well. Passports . . . tickets . . . whatever.” He took all his savings from his overcoat and handed them to Ivan Zarko. “I hope it’s enough.”

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