The Night War

Catherine says that a priest once told her that Jewish people had horns. Miri becomes angry. Catherine assures her that her secret is safe; Catherine can’t talk to anyone apart from Miri. Miri tells Catherine about Nora and her plan to escape with her. Catherine says that Miri cannot leave, as she needs Miri for her garden.

Sister Annunciata comes to the dormitory; another person needs help to escape. Miri volunteers to help. It is a mother and a small boy. Miri successfully escorts them to Raven but trips on the way back to the convent. The German guards on duty hear her. She lies, pretending that she had been in the castle earlier but fell asleep. The soldiers are obviously suspicious. They bind her hands behind her back and accompany her back to the convent. Mother Agnès is furious and insists that Miri be left tied up.

In the dormitory, Beatrice unties Miri’s wrists. She tells Miri that she hasn’t heard from her parents in a year since the Nazis went through her town. She reassures Miri that she can trust her.

Mother Agnès angrily lectures Miri the next day, but Miri doesn’t admit why she was at the castle at night. Sister Annunciata discusses Nora’s situation with Miri. She knows that Miri plans to smuggle her out, and she feels that Nora will be safer and happier left where she is.

Miri returns to the castle. Catherine tells her that the guards are suspicious that people have been sneaking through the castle since they discovered her on the grounds last night. They found footsteps leading from the castle bridge on the other side of the river. They are building a steel gate, after which no one will be able to pass through. Then, Miri hears a sharp crack and throws herself to the ground, believing it to be a gunshot.

Catherine comforts Miri and assures her that Monsieur Rosenbaum’s arrest two years earlier was not her fault. Catherine tells Miri that she heard that a baptism is taking place the following day. Miri realizes that it will probably be for Nora and resolves that she must escape with Nora before then. Catherine tells her that she cannot leave, as she has responsibilities as her gardener. Miri angrily yells at Catherine that her and Nora’s lives are more important than her flowers. Her yelling attracts the attention of the guards, who sternly tell her not to return to the castle.

The guards angrily escort Jacqueline, Beatrice, and Miri from the castle grounds. Miri reflects to herself that she had done the right thing in assisting the people to escape.

The three girls are locked in their dormitory. They argue after Jacqueline insists that the Nazis aren’t going to hurt anyone apart from Jews. Beatrice angrily tells Jacqueline that some French people are Jewish. Jacqueline maintains that Jews are “horrid” (139). Miri tells Jacqueline that she is a Jew.

Jacqueline is shocked and upset. Beatrice is angry with Miri for revealing her Jewish identity.

Sisters Dominique and Annunciata tell Miri that the town is crawling with soldiers but that she will be safe since they are spreading the news that the girls have been locked up as punishment for stealing from the castle garden. Sister Annunciata again tries to convince Miri that Nora will be happy and safe where she is. Mother Agnès interrupts and locks Miri back in the dormitory with Jacqueline and Beatrice, but Miri climbs out the window as soon as she’s gone.

Miri goes to the woods by the castle. Catherine finds her there. Miri explains that she must find Nora and escape that night. Catherine explains that it was not a gunshot they heard the day before but a roof tile smashing on the ground. This gives comfort to Miri, who had believed that she heard a gunshot during the roundup in Paris; she wonders if her mother climbed onto the roof of their apartment building to escape and, therefore, might still be alive.

Catherine concedes that children died in the Huguenot massacre because of her. She regrets this and might have chosen differently if she had her time again. Later, walking through the town, Miri finds Sister Annunciata, who convinces her to return to the convent.

Miri climbs back into the convent dormitory through the window. Beatrice wakes up, and Miri tells her about everything, apart from the ghost of Catherine.

The next day, the students and nuns go to church for Monique’s baptism, whom Miri knows to actually be Nora. Sister Annunciata faints into the priest, and Catherine calls, “Now!” to Miri. Miri grabs Nora and runs. As they run, Beatrice announces to the church that Miri and Nora are Jewish.

Miri hides with Nora until it is dark. They go outside, where Catherine is waiting for them. Catherine explains that Jacqueline told the soldiers that Miri had run in the other direction, which saved Miri and Nora.

Miri goes to the outbuilding of the inn, where she used to pick up the people she would smuggle. Beatrice is there with Elodie. Beatrice reveals that she is also Jewish; Miri had worked this out. The girls want to go with Miri and Nora. They walk toward the castle, and Catherine begs Miri not to leave.

They hide in a castle outhouse. Catherine agrees to help them escape to atone for killing the Huguenots. Miri tells Catherine that she will miss her.

Catherine calls from the darkness for Miri and the others to run when there’s a break in the guards, and they run. They pass through the castle bridges successfully. Raven is waiting for them.

Raven passes the group to the next passeur. Before she leaves, she blesses Miri in Yiddish. Miri replies in Yiddish, encouraging Raven to be brave.

Miri, Nora, Elodie, and Beatrice reach Switzerland. The Rosenbaums and Miri’s family survive the war and are reunited. However, Beatrice’s and Elodie’s families do not survive.

Years later, Miri returns to Chenonceaux, but Catherine’s ghost is gone. Miri sings the Hebrew angel song for Catherine in her garden and places a stone on her grave.