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shoulders as he went。 He threw open the door and even managed to scream out his wife's name before collapsing to his knees while his assailant continued to rain blows on him。 At last； and to Janusz's great relief； Svandova pitched forward onto his face； blood from his broken head instantly flooding the hallway。 Janusz ran from the house when the dead man's wife began screeching from the top of the stairway。 He knew she had recognised him and he had it in mind to climb the stairs and silence her forever too； but other figures had appeared behind her； presumably Svandova's sons； and Janusz had no desire to battle it out with them。
He left the city； heading north once again； cursing his bad luck and his business associate's foolishness。 He was now a fugitive from a far more serious crime and every endeavour would be made by the police to capture him。
For nearly three months Janusz eluded them； the northern forests swallowing him up pletely； bestowing upon him the invisibility he craved。 But autumn was turning to winter and even the extra clothing he had stolen to wear under his greatcoat could not prevent the chill reaching his bones。 Food…the roots and nuts he found； the turnips and beetroots； and potatoes he dug from farmers' fields late at night； the small animals he occasionally was able to trap and kill…already scarce was being even more so。 Yet again Janusz became intimately acquainted with terribl hunger。 When stealing from farms…odd items of clothing cam from outside washing lines…he yearned to e across a pig pen dreamt of reaching in and pulling out a piglet； just as his fath had all those years ago。 When he slept he dreamed of his family' feast； when he had watched the roasting pig； making sure t meat wasn't burned black。 He awoke many times with the d licious smell still in his nostrils and before reality edged it away a more subtle aroma would bee dominant 。 。
His heavy beard was matted and dirty and Janusz may ha appeared plump； but only layers of clothing created the illusio for beneath them his flesh was hollowed between the bones； j as it had been in the years when Germans had occupied hi country。 He had plodded for two days through the snow…lade forest； sheltering where he could； cramming any foliage he cool find into his mouth and chomping until it was mulched enoug for him to digest。 He even pulled pieces of bark from trees to gnaw on。
The policjareci had been waiting for him at the last farmhous he had attempted to rob； he had remained in one area for too long； the stealing being more than just an annoyance to th locals。 A trap had been set for him and only blind panic had le him the strength to outrun his pursuers。 Now it was only stomac pains that drove him on。
Janusz saw the column of smoke rising above the treetop and stumbled off in that direction。 He came upon a small； log house in a clearing。 His weary legs barely got him to the frontdoor。 Isis fist made the faintest of sounds when he pounded on the wood。
The woodsman caught him as he tell inside and dragged him over to the fire。 He called for his wife to warm some sok and bring it to the half…frozen man while he loosened the unfortunate's clothing。 They were kind to this wretched wayfarer； even though suspicious； and they did their utmost to revive him。 After a while； when he was able to sit at the table and sip more of the warm brew； they tried to question him； but his replies were incoherent； his voice rambling。 They soon realised the man was crazed with hunger and exhaustion。 And the wife was uneasy at the way he kept staring at their twelve…year…old daughter who sat quietly in the corner watching everything with a wide…eyed expression on her plump little face； her skin pink and unblemished in the glow from the fire。
Janusz repaid their kindness by killing them all。 He used his trusty metal bar to batter the man unconscious as he stooped to put another log on the fire； and a breadknife quickly grabbed from the table to cut all their throats。
When the two policjanci who had been following his tracks through the forest burst in less than an hour later； he had already started to eat the woodsman's daughter。
In one respect Janusz was lucky。 The officers were fresh enough in their careers not yet to have witnessed the worst of criminal brutality and nor were they old enough to prehend the true barbarism of the Nazi occupation during the last World War。 When they saw what had bee of the woodsman and his wife； when they realised that what their quarry was stuffing into his mouth was from the child's open belly； they were too shocked…too revolted…to move。
The madness in Janusz； further incited by the excitement of his deed； overcame the fatigue that was still with him； he threw the breadknife at one uniformed intruder and rushed screaming at the other。 The vision of this wildman； his body puffed up by the layers of clothing he wore； mouth and beard daubed with blood； eyes huge and crazed； would have frozen the bravest of men； and the two policjanci had thus far won no service awards for gallantry。 Neither of them could help but cringe away。
One was pushed back against the wall while the other scrambled to retrieve his rifle； dropped when he had dodged the thrown knife。 The thief they had tracked so many miles was through the door and out in the snow again； scurrying back into the trees as a single shot was fired at him。 The bullet chipped the top of his right collarbone but； despite the agonising ；jolt； he did not stop running。 Nightfall helped cloak his escape。
Soon the gunshots behind him grew fainter and Janusz was both laughing and weeping as he scrambled up a slope。 He toppled over the ridge and rolled down the other side； giggling and crying out as he went。 He came to rest at the bottom of the hill； spreadeagled on his back； half…buried in snow and his chest heaving with exertion。
He stayed that way for some time； his breathing gradually slowing as he listened for his pursuers。 Their voices came from high above him and soon drifted away again； the darkness now concealing the trail of disturbed snow he had left behind。 He had lost them。 He had got away。 He giggled once more and licked his lips； the taste still strong on his tongue。
Janusz waited a little while longer before rising to his knees。
He was instantly blinded by dazzling white light。
Russian tanks were strategically positioned in many sectors of Poland； never obtrusively； but usually in areas where their threat could be felt rather than continually observed。 The soldiers who manned them were highly disciplined and never mingled with the munity； but they were always on standby； ready to move against insurgence at a moment's notice。 Perpetually bored by their low…profile assignment； the tank crews were eager for any distraction that might e their way。 They had observed the dark figure tumbling down the hillside and patiently waited for it to move again once it reached the bottom。 When it did； they switched on their tank lights as one。
Janusz screamed in terror。 He stumbled away； not caring in which direction he ran； his only thought to be out of that intense glare as quickly as possible。 The two policjants； alerte