man-s-search-for-meaning

MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING
by sunset. Even the few remaining prisoners (the sick,
a few doctors, and some "nurses") would have to
leave. At night, the camp was to be set on fire. In the
afternoon the trucks which were to collect the sick had
not yet appeared. Instead the camp gates were suddenly
closed and the barbed wire closely watched, so
that no one could attempt an escape. The remaining
prisoners seemed to be destined to burn with the
camp. For the second time my friend and I decided to
escape.
We had been given an order to bury three men
outside the barbed-wire fence. We were the only two in
camp who had strength enough to do the job. Nearly
all the others lay in the few huts which were still in
use, prostrate with fever and delirium. We now made
our plans: along with the first body we would smuggle
out my friend's rucksack, hiding it in the old laundry
tub which served as a coffin. When we took out the
second body we would also carry out my rucksack,
and on the third trip we intended to make our escape.
The first two trips went according to plan. After we
returned, I waited while my friend tried to find a piece
of bread so that we would have something to eat
during the next few days in the woods. I waited.
Minutes passed. I became more and more impatient as
he did not return. After three years of imprisonment, I
was picturing freedom joyously, imagining how wonderful
it would be to run toward the battle-front. But
we did not get that far.
The very moment when my friend came back, the
camp gate was thrown open. A splendid, aluminumcolored
car, on which were painted large red crosses,
slowly rolled on to the parade ground. A delegate from
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