Read Online Jacob's Way by Gilbert Morris - Free Book Online Page B

what you’ve done for me.”
    Dov’s eyes opened, but he did not object.
    She put her hand on his arm and said, “Come. He will want to thank you.”
    She led the huge man downstairs, leading him directly to where her grandfather was sitting on a wooden case reading a book by the pale yellow light of a lantern.
    â€œGrandfather, this is Dov.”
    Jacob rose and studied the huge figure of the man. He listened carefully as Reisa told him what had happened, and then he put out his hand and said, “I am forever grateful to you, my son.”
    And then Dov did something that Reisa never forgot. He took the hand of her grandfather, and she saw that it was almost hidden in the huge hands of the giant. He fell to his knees, leaned forward, and kissed the hand of her grandfather. Jacob leaned forward and put his hand on the mat of dark curly hair and prayed a quick prayer for his safety. Finally he asked, “Are you Jewish, my son?”
    â€œNo, just Christian man. Russian Orthodox.”
    Dov rose, and without another word he left.
    â€œGod uses strange people to help us, doesn’t he, Reisa?”
    Reisa was still not over the shock. She well knew what her fate would have been down in that dark hold, and she put a trembling hand in her grandfather’s. “Yes. He doesn’t look much like an angel, but he was to me.”
    From that moment, Dov became Reisa’s protector. There was no more trouble, for his huge, massive form was not far from the young woman wherever she went. The sailor named Max kept far away, and word spread throughout the ship of what had happened. And it was the cook, Schultz, who said, “Well, Reisa, you found yourself a protector, and a mighty good one, I’d say!”

Four
    T he galley was one of the few warm, cozy places aboard the Jennings . Reisa loved to visit with Carl Schultz, and he seemed to welcome her. Schultz was ordinarily gruff, running the sailors out of his galley with curses, but something about Reisa’s appealing manner seemed to melt his crustiness. He had helped her with Jacob by warming soup on the stove, and several times had allowed her to make tea, which her grandfather had sorely missed.
    Now as the ship rose and fell, the warmth of the stove soaked into Reisa, and the air was sweet with the odor of freshly baked bread. She wished that she could share this with Jacob, but he felt too weak to join her in the galley. Beside her sat Petya, also pleased to be included in the company.
    â€œSo, you have learned the words I gave you yesterday, yah?”
    â€œOh, yes, Herr Schultz!” Reisa responded quickly. “Petya and I worked hard on them last night. Go on, Petya, say the words for Herr Schultz.”
    Petya was highly pleased to be included in the English lessons, for he knew this would be a skill he must acquire—and the sooner the better. He had very little English, but he was a quick learner, and now he ran over the members of his body reciting precisely: “Ear—eye—throat—mouth—head, haar—”
    â€œIt’s hair , not haar.” Schultz was peeling potatoes, and he grunted after Petya’s recitation. Dropping a potato in the bucket, he picked up another one saying, “That is gut . You are a bright young fellow. Well, Reisa, what would you like to learn today?”
    â€œOh, whatever Petya would like.”
    Petya asked, “Ask him how to say ben and bas , Reisa.”
    Reisa said, “Oh, I know that! Ben is son . You know, Petya, like Rabbi Ben Ezra means ‘the son of Ezra.’ Bas is daughter .”
    â€œWhat about an unmarried man?” Petya demanded. Reisa asked this of Schultz, who grinned.
    â€œIn English is bachelor .” Then he said, “You need to know the word slob .”
    â€œSlob? What means slob? ” Reisa asked.
    â€œSomeone who ain’t got no manners and is rather nasty.” “Oh.” Reisa smiled, her eyes