Summary

Chapter 9 returns to the third-person point of view. It is 1946 in Winterstein. Anna intends to cut the throat of the Bolshevik soldier she finds standing in her kitchen. She has heard how any sympathizers with the Romanovs have been killed, so she speaks to the man in German instead of Russian. When the soldier sees that Anna is determined in her threat to kill him, he leaves. Anna locates a phone to call Frederick for help.

The story goes backward in time three years to Hannover. Anna is awakened by the bombs. She empties clothing as well as a chess set, a photo album, an icon of St. Anna, and a paper knife into a suitcase before running to the basement. In the morning there is nothing left of her building. Anna begins walking toward Winterstein.

Chapter 10 is narrated by Anastasia. On...