Salt to the Sea

These pages comprise 14 short sections, beginning with Florian’s.

Florian forges his boarding pass and remembers his father, who told him he should do more than imitate the work of others. Florian describes the dazzling Amber Room (stolen from Poland), from which the crystal swan was taken, as “six tons of pure, glistening amber” (226). In his hollowed-out heel, he hides the map and key to the bunker where the Amber Room is hidden.

Alfred imagines another letter to Hannelore, remarking that the “East Prussians are a different Germanic breed altogether” (222). Avoiding work as usual, Alfred walks around until a soldier sends him to the infirmary to have the blistery rash on his hands looked at; there, he plans “to spy on the pretty nurse” (230).

Joana and Emilia sleep nose-to-nose on cots in the maternity ward, bringing Joana bittersweet memories of her cousin. Emilia goes into labor and remembers her mother’s death during childbirth six years ago; she assumes she will die, too. As her pain increases, she believes she is being punished for her lies: “You must tell the truth, Emilia,” a voice tells her (233). Emilia admits to Joana, “There is no August” (233). The hideous story of her pregnancy unfolds: Frau Kleist, August’s mother, gave Emilia to Russian soldiers when they tried to take August’s sister. The Kleist family watched as Emilia was “dragged to the cold cellar” and raped (239).

In the morning, Florian, the poet, and the little boy wade through crowds to get to the dock. Rumors of Russian attacks fill the packed streets with terror. A desperate woman tries to buy the little boy so she will be given access to the ship. At the checkpoint, the little boy unintentionally distracts the guard from Florian, who fears his forged documents will incriminate him. Eva appears to return their luggage and leaves to board the Hansa, another ship destined for Germany (that did not sink).

These pages contain 13 short sections, beginning with Joana’s.

Alfred is called a “bedwetter” by fellow sailors when he claims he is on special assignment to avoid duty (256). Florian makes it through an intense luggage inspection by boldly threatening to report the arrogant young Nazi in charge to Gaultier Koch. Unbeknownst to Joana, Florian provides a forged letter with her signature indicating that Koch has assigned Joana as his nurse.

Later, Joana takes Florian’s stitches out in the infirmary and asks him to see Emilia. After Florian shares a touching moment with Emilia’s baby—“She is you, she is your mother, your father, your country” (261)—both Emilia and Joana are smitten with his tenderness. Joana and Florian laugh about gullible Alfred, who Florian promised an award for his “service.” They share their first kiss. Florian hides in a chimney. The cobbler and little boy make money repairing shoes.

In a letter to Hannelore, Alfred describes the Gustloff as a “living, breathing city” for all the people and activity about. He is increasingly obsessed with his “allegiance to our country and our Fuhrer” (267).

Emilia continues to process memories of the vicious Frau Kleist, who gave her to the Russians. The little boy introduces himself to her baby—“I am Klaus” (274)—and the shoe poet calls the baby “a miracle” (275). The young Nazi from the dock whom Florian threatened questions Joana about Florian and tells her Florian said Koch assigned her to him. The soldier says he is going to call Koch’s office.

Alfred brings Florian a meal in the chimney and shares his extreme political views, which raise hairs on the back of Florian’s neck. He says, “This guy wasn’t a sailor. He was a sociopath in training” (280).