Defiance

Pesia had lost her entire family when they were taken out of the bunker.

Then Sonia Boldo was whisked away by her friend Chaja Bielski. Excitement banished all tiredness and all desire for sleep.

The three Russians were glad to meet the five fugitives. They were particularly interested in

The makeup of these councils shifted continuously. Some members were murdered, others resigned. More often than not, those who resigned were also murdered. Still others committed suicide.

Tuvia, Asael, Malbin, and those who agreed with them were able to transcend both the principle of self-preservation and their desire to save only their families and close friends. They were determined to save all Jews regardless of who they were.

People fell asleep in spite of being wet and weighted down by mud.

Kesler and his people remained

When Sulia stuck to her initial story she was beaten.

arguments. People felt very strongly about him and would remark that “Tuvia had charm. He gave us all strength, we felt more secure with him. He was very close to people, he loved them. . . . Tuvia was hard and soft at the same time. When any one of us was in trouble he was always there. He would always help. One felt safe with him.”38