The Four Winds of Heaven by Monique Raphel High Read Free Book Online

way things are,” Madame Gilina murmured gently.
    â€œAnd your blessed Papa gives work and homes to all of us,” Titine added reverently. “Oh, the Baron has never struck any of his people. But the Count, he has that reputation…” She motioned to Anna’s back.
    Sonia, standing behind her sister, had been listening thoughtfully. Now she took Anna’s elbow and spoke softly. “Mama says that some people are born one way, and some another, and that one mustn’t question, for that is the world. If we did not have Papa’s money, then we would not be able to help the others.”
    â€œThat’s childish nonsense,” her sister replied. “Why should we help them? Why can’t they have enough money of their own to help themselves?”
    â€œMama says it is because we know what’s best, and can help better. Look at our Papa—he is brilliant. He can help anyone who needs it. But Mama also says that we must have all kinds of people in the world, so that all kinds of work can get done. Titine knows how to take care of us, and Eusebe carries the water, and Papa does things in the government. And the Tzar is the Father of Russia.”
    Anna said roughly, “You are five years old, and you don’t know how to think. You don’t even understand any of this. But you do care about the family that was evicted, don’t you?”
    Sonia nodded solemnly. “It is so cruel. We must tell Papa. He will make it better. But if you yourself changed places with the father that was so ill, that wouldn’t help anybody. Someone would still be without a home, just as your getting whipped didn’t help any peasant child at the Count’s.”
    Madame Gilina exchanged a sharp glance with the old Breton nurse. She smiled suddenly at Sonia, and sighed. Titine, under her breath, said, “Blessed Virgin, he must be another poor Jew. It is usually so.”
    Anna had already turned away, her mind aflame with plans to rescue the victims. But Sonia had heard Titine, and now her eyes grew larger. “But aren’t all good people Jews?” she asked.
    Madame Gilina was amused. “Did someone tell you that, my dear?”
    â€œWell, the Bible says we are the chosen people. Surely all of us are chosen, aren’t we?” Sonia was suddenly worried.
    â€œIt would be wise to ask your father, Sofia Davidovna,” Madame Gilina said.
    The next morning at breakfast, Sonia therefore took the problem to David. “Papa, I thought all good people, who believed in God, were Jews, like us,” she began.
    Her father put aside his jam and crumpet, and leaned forward. “And so we have come to that. No, Sonia, all the world is not Jewish. You see, the Jews came first. But there were other people who believed in God, only they chose to worship Him in different ways. Not better, not worse— simply different. God loves all who worship Him.”
    The older children already knew this, of course, but Ossip asked, “Then why is it important to light the candles on Friday? What does it matter, since God loves Titine just as much as us, and she eats fish on Fridays to make Him happy? You don’t think Titine is any worse than we, yet you don’t follow her rules. Why don’t we all simply stop doing all these things and just believe?”
    Mathilde, at the head of the table facing David, brought her fine linen napkin to her mouth to conceal a smile.
    But David was not amused. “What you say makes sense,” he said to Ossip. “Religions were built to strengthen faiths, however. You see, if my life is miserable, if I feel alone, merely thinking of God is sometimes not sufficient. Sometimes I need a ritual, something I do by habit, to make me realize how important my God is in my everyday existence. I feel good when Mama lights the candles. Titine feels pure when she does not eat meat on Friday. The Gunzburgs have always been Jews. We react to