The German Girl

Hannah wakes to her mother’s cries. Alma is tearing the cabin apart looking for the capsules. After a while, she calms down, sits at the edge of Hannah’s bed, and tells her in Spanish, “Nos vamos” (197). It is finally time to disembark. Hannah’s family fights through the throng onboard. Hannah spots Leo in the crowd. He takes her hand and puts something in her palm, saying, “Don’t open the box until we meet again, Hannah! […] If we never meet again, wait until you are eighty-seven to open it” (198). Leo tries to kiss Hannah, but the crowd breaks them up. Although he is out of sight, Hannah promises to herself that “I won’t leave this island until you arrive, I won’t open the box until we meet again” (198). She checks to see what he has given her. It is a tiny indigo-colored box. She knows that it is Leo’s mother’s ring. Down below a small boat named Argus waits to ferry a few passengers off of the ship. Hannah hugs her father goodbye. A Cuban official breaks them up. About 30 passengers are let aboard the small boat, including Hannah and her mother, while Hannah’s father and Leo are forced to remain on the St.