The Devil's Arithmetic

Gitl whispers to Hannah that she’s part of a plan to escape. Yitzchak and Shmuel are involved as well. Hannah asks for details, but Gitl withholds them for Hannah’s safety. If anything happens, Hannah’s main job is to remember them.

Days go by, and then Gitl grabs Hannah. The plan involves Hannah too. They open a door that’s usually locked. Hannah carries a pair of shoes, and she and Gitl head toward the meeting place: behind the trash dump. The pair hear screams and shots: The plan fails. Gitl and Hannah return. Gitl lies to the blokova and tells her she went to use the bathroom in her bowl.

Hannah worries the Nazis will know she’s outside due to her shoes. She dropped them during the commotion. Gitl tells her not to worry: The shoes belonged to the blokova.

During the morning roll call, Breuer stands near six chained men. Hannah recognizes Shmuel. He stands proudly and spits, so a Nazi shoves the end of his gun into his stomach. Breuer gives a speech about the pointlessness of escape. He says he’s been too kind to the Jewish prisoners. He thinks of them as his pets. He lets them live and work, but they’re ungrateful and try to run away.