The German Girl

“This was the day we were scheduled to disembark in Havana,” the chapter begins (171). The fate of the 936 passengers onboard, however, rests in the hands of the Cuban president, who might allow the ship to dock or send it back out to the ocean. Hannah is awake at four in the morning. She has been unsuccessful in finding the cyanide capsules. Passengers have brought their luggage out into the corridors. A Cuban doctor has come onboard to perform checkups on all of the passengers. Hannah’s mother seems to be ill, pushing Hannah away when she tries to hug her. Leo comes by with news: “A ship left Hamburg today bound for Havana and had to change course when it was told the Cuban government wouldn’t let its passengers land” (173). Out on the deck, Hannah describes the smells of Cuba as a “sweet mixture of salt and gasoline” (174). Crowds begin to gather on the shore and in the port, aware of the ship’s arrival. Walter runs by, stating, “They’re demanding a bond of five hundred Cuban pesos per passenger as a guarantee,” a figure which is close to $500 (174).