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One tragedy befell another. It seemed for Mala, her family, and all of Tarnogrod’s Jews, there was no escaping the Germans’ might. As the family starved, Mala and her brother went out to barter what little they had. They were thrilled to have scored some bread and vegetables. On their stealthy return, they were discovered and shot at by the soldiers. Mala played dead and escaped with her life, her brother Yechiel, was not playing. He’d been killed. About this time Mala’s stray cat became her constant companion. It seemed to accompany Mala everywhere she went, or meet her whenever she returned from scavenging for food. Mala saw the little cat as her angel and named the cat Malach. It seemed regardless of where Mala found herself, an orchard, a barn, the river, the little cat was by her side, keeping her company. [Eva Trieger]