Minister Mordechai Kleen: “It’s a completely hypothetical question.”

Paradyz: “Not hypothetical. The driver is the Judenrat. The loaded van is the Ghetto. The child is the few who must go.”

Gutfreind: “But we can still put on the brakes. By saying no.”

The snuff was wearing off Andrei Schpitalnik, the Minister of Culture and Entertainment. “We are not getting anywhere, my friends. We have to take turns, so everyone can speak. First, here is my opinion. We should not worry, because no one will be deported. A miracle will definitely happen first. Now it’s the turn of F. Philosoff, who sits on my right. And so on around the circle. Mister Minister, what do you think?”

“I pass,” said Philosoff.

Miss Megalif, Posts and Telegraph: “I am the next speaker. I propose an appeal to world opinion. We could circulate a petition with thousands of names.”

“I have a plan that will meet every objection.” It was Verble, of Housing, once again. “Miss Kleinweiss said that the Judenrat might act from self-interest. To pay off old scores, and so forth. Very well, then. Why don’t we pick the names completely by chance? Then fate will be the guilty party.”

Paradyz: “It’s a wonderful idea. We could put the names into a hat!”

Schpitalnik: “Yes, yes. We could even put our names in. Out of a population of over a hundred thousand, the chance of one of us being picked is practically nil.”

Popower: “That won’t be necessary. We have already been picked by chance—for our positions on the Judenrat. Isn’t that burden enough? Now let others run the same risk.”

Many voices spoke together. “Yes. Do it by lot! What could be fairer!”

But the membership of the Jewish Council had yet to hear from the Minister of Vital Statistics. The Hungarian removed his spectacles, which had little black ribbons attached to the lenses, and rubbed his eyes. He licked the whiskers nearest his mouth. “No,” he said, “it will not do. If we are going to leave the decision to blind chance, we might as well allow the Death’s-Headers to do it. They’ll seize whomever destiny puts in their way. I have been thinking and thinking. Why does the Conqueror wish us to become his accomplices in this matter? Why doesn’t he simply take the farmers himself? It can only be because he is going to commit a crime so big that even he dares not do it alone. What could such a crime be? I have not thought so far. I only know if I were one of the Others the thing I would want most is for the Jews to do it for me. And the thing I would want least is for the Jews to resist. Judenrat members, here’s my advice. Let’s set a fire, a big one, and order everyone to break through the walls, to swim over the river. Run! That is what we should tell our people. Run! Run! Run!”

“Be quiet, sir!”