Salt to the Sea

These pages contain 14 short sections that begin with Joana’s.

Joana is furious with Florian for implicating her in his scheme. Emilia begs her not to expose him. She continues to process painful memories of the cruel Frau Klein and the hideous events leading up to her pregnancy.

Alfred seeks out Joana for Florian and then spies on the hundreds of young female cadets staying in the empty swimming pool. They laugh at him when he is discovered. Joana confronts Florian for putting her life in danger. He admits to forging her signature from the note she left in the mansion. Joana is relieved the incriminating document is no longer in the house, but Florian is unsure he can trust her.

Back in the infirmary, Emilia names her baby Halinka, after her dead mother, and longs for Poland. The ship finally leaves the harbor, carrying 10 times its capacity of passengers. Florian considers exit strategies for the arrival in Kiel, while Alfred deals with terrible seasickness. He tries to gain entry to the infirmary, where he is laughed at by the injured soldiers.

Joana and Florian go to the chimney so Joana can cut his hair to disguise him.