But unlike Ulmann, Sergio had promised to bring her family over. How could she let down poor Keyla, who suffered so much and was struggling through the wild, vast Siberia to make her way here? And Vida, for whom Batya already felt deep love? Sergio’s words, though, were only that—words, and any prostitute who believed in promises was a fool. For all Batya knew, his scheme might come to naught, and in her gullibility she would miss her only chance to break away from Moskowitz’s shackles.

There was no one to consult, to help her untangle all the speculations crowding her head. What would Rochel do if, by a miracle, she had the chance to find and rescue her two young brothers? Would she forsake them and selfishly choose a new, comfortable life for herself? Batya couldn’t ask her friend. As close as the two of them were, their hearts were isolated islands, each floating in its own ocean of grief. And a betrayal of Moskowitz was too frightening to reveal to anyone.

She raised her head to heaven. “Mama, you’ve seen how hard I’ve tried to save money for them. You’ve seen what hell my life has been. Haven’t I done enough? Isn’t it time I free at least myself?”

The pigeons in the gutter cooed an incomprehensible response.

A couple of days later, just after breakfast, Moskowitz ordered Batya to put on her organza dress. Getting ready in her chamber, Batya wondered what kind of party was being held this early in the day, but when she descended from the carriage twenty minutes later, she learned that Moskowitz was taking her to a photographer to have an image taken of her holding a tango position.

The next day, proud of his rising star, Moskowitz hung grainy copies of her picture at the entrance to the house and pinned them to fences around the neighborhood—and probably far beyond. In the following days and evenings, while Batya serviced a string of new men who came in response to Moskowitz’s hype, Ulmann’s offer became unbearably tempting. It was hers to grab—now, and not sometime in the vague future like Sergio’s plan. A long time ago, Batya recalled, she had been lured by death. Now she was being lured by life. Then, she had chosen to live only so she could get her family out of Russia. Now she must decide whether to live for her own sake.

Chapter Forty-One