The German Girl

Only two Cubans and four Spaniards are allowed to leave the ship. Hannah can see cars speeding along the waterfront road out the porthole windows. Mr. and Mrs. Moser come by Hannah’s family’s cabin. Mrs. Moser says that her husband wants to die: “He wants to throw himself into the sea” (178). She seems to believe that the Rosenthals are powerful enough to change everyone’s circumstances. Hannah’s father promises to find a solution to Mr. Moser’s suicidal inclinations. Hannah notes that her father has turned into his old professor self again. He plans to write the presidents of Cuba, the United States, and Canada on behalf of the passengers onboard the St. Louis. The Mosers are encouraged by his words. Mr. Moser seems to have hope. Nevertheless, that night Mr. Moser severs his arteries and passes away. Mrs. Moser finds him in the morning in the bathroom. When Hannah’s father is told, he is “too preoccupied with [his] own anguish” to show any emotion (181).

Leo tells Hannah of his plan to set the whole ship aflame. Cuba has “accepted less than thirty passengers—the ones who had landing permits issued by its state department—but rejected those signed by the director-general of immigration, Manuel Benítez” (183). The Benítez passport is the kind that Hannah’s family has. Hannah’s father’s passport is stamped with a large “R: for return or rejected or repudiated” (184). The passports of Leo, his father, Walter, Kurt, and Ines have all met the same fate. Hannah realizes that they had all been foolish to trust those who told them that their passports would grant them entry to Cuba in the first place. Leo and some men from the banquet conspire about setting the ship on fire or commandeering it. Hannah goes to the far end of the deck to take photos and observe people. Leo finds her and the two of them stand hand in hand, watching the boats pass in the water below.

Hannah lays down beside her father in bed and watches her mother open her jewel case, which is an antique music box. Hannah remembers being hypnotized by the special box as a child before realizing that the jewel case must be where the cyanide capsules are hidden. When she is alone again, she opens the jewel case and finds the capsules inside. She runs to find Leo. In the dining room, she gives him the bronze tube containing the capsules, and Leo leaves the room. There is another fancy dinner with black caviar and dancing. A tall woman sings a German song, and the atmosphere in the room turns “mournful” (192). Leo returns. He tells Hannah that he’s thrown the capsules into the sea.