Books

When the local town observes a minute of silence “for the innocent ones who perished at the hands of the evil ones,” Barry, six years old, and Damon, 35 years old, strangers to each other, separately have the same experience of being so deeply moved by the experience that when the minute is over they are unable to bring themselves to speak again for the rest of their lives lest they lose the feelings they have reached. This is the story of what happens to them and Damon’s daughter Dora and how their lives cross.

Vaclav and Irina (both 15) attempt to escape from behind the Iron Curtain. When Irina is shot Vaclav feels compelled to search for truth. “Bohemian border with Bavaria, West Germany, 1948 He should have known. If only he had trusted his intuition. That was the problem, telling the difference between intuition and fear, and he was not about to give into fear. There was no time; they had to flee and it had to be in that moment or they might never have another opportunity. They ran into the night.” Vaclav and Irina, both age fifteen, flee from behind the Iron Curtain. Irina is shot in the back and falls. He goes to help her but as he takes her in his arms another bullet enters her head and at that moment she orders him “Go!”. He puts her down gently and runs. He reaches West Germany, then he travels to Rome and to New York in his quest for enlightenment and freedom from the guilt that haunts him for his soulmate Irina’s fate.