I ran into Gyuska at the barbershop. He is the town secretary for the party. He waited for me until I was finished and together we took the long way about to avoid the monument for the 101
regiment. He finds the new regime hard to take, but plans to continue until I take over the running of security for Comrade Balla. Until then I was to assist in the management of the Békés County's police office.
I was ready to be of service with this change toward democracy and prepared to make the sacrifices required, but I lacked the confidence for the position of being in charge of the community's security. Had I given up my law practice, I would have been in Budapest working for the Minister in the Department of Interior Affairs. But I wanted to stay here waiting for my little woman to return from Auschwitz. My mother and grandmother are my responsibility and I can still be useful to the community with my profession. Gyuska accepted my point of view.
The Peasant Party's Posters began to appear at this time. They were announcing a lecture to be given by Ferenc Erdei, the Minister of Interior Affairs, on the day of Pentecost. After the lecture I was able to speak to Erdei. Oh yes, where was I? He was counting on me referring to our earlier discussion - the matter of restitution for those who had suffered so much. A great deal could be achieved. I reported on the events of the Szobek-Era. Erdei was still anxious to have me take on the position previously offered.
Some days later, the town messenger delivered an ornately sealed envelope from the governor of Békés. I was to meet with him at eight o'clock on June 22, according to decree 1.080/1945 regarding my qualification in jurisprudence for the investigating committee.
This is the text of the oath:
As member of the investigating committee, I solemnly swear to carry out my duties in serving the Hungarian people without prejudice and in the spirit of justice.I had to fill in for a colleague and I was immediately delegated to sit at the committee's first session. Next day my appointment was reported in the "Viharsarok" (Stormy Corner) news. I found the town's MKP (Hungarian Communist Party) co-operative. I had no problem with the representatives of the other parties nor with the trade unions. They were ready to accept my recommendations - but this was just the beginning. Soon members of the freelance intelligentsia, those with official permits, lawyers and notaries, employees of private firms and people who left the country and moved to the west were to be screened.
Finally, I had to go to Békés because of these emigrants. I was in charge of the investigation. Often I'd have to walk there or go by bicycle - ten kilometers there and back! I was ready for the undertaking and worked conscientiously. There were those who presumed that I had ulterior motives and was benefiting from the connections which would evolve. Sometimes a client from Szeged would ask me to defend them in the matter of a police investigation. Of course I had to refuse these cases and referred them to colleagues.