The Devil's Arithmetic Summary Pt. 3
Chapter 14-15
Rivka explains to Hannah, Shifre and Esther how they can stay alive. They will have to be smart, pay
attention, and know when to avoid a prisoner who may end up getting them killed. Rivka tells them to
avoid Greek Jews, who have a G in the number tattooed on their arms. Even those who happen to be
near them can fall victim by association. Also, Rivka advises to avoid the black, handle-less doors to the
smokestack. She calls it Lilith's Cave. Those who go in do not come out.
She asks the girls for their real names and then goes through the number on her arm,
attaching meaning to each number to help her remember. Hannah breaks down as she tries to
remember her family, Hannah's family, so far away.
On the third day, Commandant Breuer pays the camp a visit for a Choosing. Those who cannot work are
chosen for death, although such language is not used in the camp. Rather, these unlucky individuals are
said to be "processed" If prisoners can work they can live.
Gitl works in thes sorting shed where prisoner belongings are sorted and sent to Germany. It is also
where men and women can speak freely and information can be exchanged between the two camps.
That night Gitl gives Chaya a blue scarf she "organized" or stole to give to others, from the shed. It is
Chaya's birthday.
Chapter 16-17
The Commandant pays another visit when the hospital door opens. It's Reuven. He has a bloody knee
and is rubbing dirt from around his eyes. Hannah calls to him to run to the midden, or garbage pit, but
Reuven is stopped by the Commandant. Hannah explains that Reuven's mother died before he came to
the camp. He asks Hannah if she is his sister. She shakes her head. The Commandant tells her that is
good for her. He takes the boy, telling Hannah that he will return him to his mother.
That night the smoke from the stacks is red and black. Hannah never sees Reuven again. Rumors abound
in the camp that new arrivals are now being sent directly to be processed instead of going to the
barracks. The camp is full. Hannah tells Gitl and Rivka that she should have told the Commandant that
Reuven was her brother. Rivka tells her that if she had, she too would be dead now. Hannah is overcome
with anger. "We are all monsters," she proclaims, "because we are letting it happen."
Gitl informs Hannah that there is a plan to escape. She does not go into detail, nor does she tell Hannah
what the plan it is or when it will take place. Hannah only knows that she will be involved
somehow. Gitl refuses to tell Hannah out of concern that Hannah may accidently discuss it and be
overheard.
One night Hannah is awoken by Gitl, who tells her that it is time. They exit the barracks under a
moonless sky. The plan is to meet behind the midden. Suddenly there is a shout and then a
shot. Gitl sees that their plan has been foiled. She moves to get herself and Hannah back inside. A great
spotlights come on, narrowly missing them as they re-enter the barracks and shut the door.
Chapter 18-19
The next morning, six of the prisoners are held in chains. Shmuel and the violin player from
the klezmer band are among them. The Commandant announces that the captured men tried
to escape the night before. Shmuel spits and is struck with the butt of a rifle. He orders the men be lined
up against the wall. Fayge escapes from the crowd and runs to him, throwing herself at his feet and
telling him that the sky is their canopy. He bends down and kisses the top of her head as the shots are
fired.
The Kommandos emerge from Lilith's Cave and collect all seven bodies. Hannah asks Gitl if she noticed
that Yitzchak was not among the captured prisoners. He escaped. She smiles at this thought.
Afterwards, a guard interrupts them, saying he has found four girls that are not working. He
needs three more for the latest load. The guard chooses all the girls but Hannah. Shifre and Esther are
carted off, with Rivka to follow. Hannah decides to switch places with Rivka, knowing that the guard will
not know the difference, freely accepting to go into Lilith's Cave.
Hannah then finds herself in front of a door marked "4N." Four for the four members of her family, she
thinks to herself, and N for New Rochelle. She sees a table set with a white cloth and food of all kinds.
Seven adults and a little blonde boy sit around the table. The old man says, "Well, Hannah? Is he
coming?"
Hannah looks back down the dark hallway. "There is no one," she responds. Hannah sits down next
to Aunt Eva and notices J18202 on her arm. She used to go by Rivka during the Holocaust and her
brother Wolfe changed his name to Will when they came to the U.S. She had helped saved her family.