Summary

The Eisenstein's returned to Barren Shoal, and Marta was immediately greeted by Sofia. Two days after their arrival, Solomon returned to the factory, as there was "no such thing as personal leave" (123), even in tragedy. Rachel spent those first few days "holed up" (123) in her bedroom. Marta attempted to take care of her, asking her if she was hungry or needed anything, but was always met with Rachel simply shaking her head, or no response at all. The elderly Marta stresses that her mother did not speak to her "for years" (125) after asking her to rip up the letter in Brooklyn.

The world Marta lived in at that time was building up to World War Two, and Marta learned about "Hoovervilles, about German-American Bund meetings, about the Nazis strolling freely through [Manhattan]" (124). Noah in particular became very interested in political and social movements...