Summary

In Chapter 16, narrated by Alina, Alina was so distracted by her fear that Tomasz would be sleeping outside in the cold that she did not even notice the Nazi soldier standing in their woods. As she screamed, Faustina spoke up from behind her, asking her to slow down. Faustina told the soldier they were walking to town to visit her grown daughter. Even though Alina and her mother had not been on their way to visit Truda, they went to her house so the soldier would not become suspicious.

At Truda’s house, Faustina hit Alina on the back of the head when Alina tried to pretend Tomasz was not back. Faustina reminded Alina she had been young and in love once. Alina was surprised that her mother did not overreact when she explained that Tomasz was helping some Jewish friends. Faustina told...