Recap: Miri, Katie, and Sabrina are helping Esther and her siblings get onto a boat that will hopefully reunite them with their parents. Miri accidentally stays too long settling the children, and she is on the boat when it leaves.
I extracted myself from Ruthy and rushed up to the deck. I waved frantically towards Katie and Sabrina, who were both watching me with worried looks from the shore.
Now what? Instead of heading to Toledo, I was moving farther and farther away from Rabbi Sarna. How would I ever return to my own time?
The waves rocked the boat as it plowed ahead. My stomach roiled. I was moving farther and farther away from Katie and Sabrina. How could it be that things kept getting worse and worse? I had to get back home to my family. I had to!
“Please, Hashem! Help me get off this boat. Please help me get to Toledo, to the rav who can help us go back to our families. Please!” Tears trickled down my cheeks.
Mr. Sanchez ran onto the pier. I saw him talking to someone.
What could I do now that I was separated from Katie and Sabrina? Nannie strode next to me, holding Ruthy. “I’m sorry, dear, but you’ll come with us to Amsterdam.”
“No!” I was acting like Ruthy, but she didn’t understand. I had to go back. It was my only chance of making it back to my family.
Except for our small boat, there were no other boats gliding on the black water that shimmered in the moonlight. Most people were home sleeping. That’s where I should be, not on a boat heading away from anyone I knew.
The boat continued to plow straight ahead, forming a line of waves on either side. Would I ever see my family again? Now I was separated from Katie and Sabrina. My heart was pounding.
The boat whistled again.
I held my breath.
Slowly, slowly, the boat stopped.
“Please, let the boat go back. Please!”
I felt the boat pivoting. The water parted, and then it appeared to be moving back towards the shoreline.
Yes! Tears of relief pricked my eyes.
It glided slowly back towards Katie and Sabrina.
“Baruch Hashem!”
The boat bumped up against the dock. I jumped off. Mr. Sanchez handed something to the captain.
I shielded my eyes with my hand and watched as the whistle blew again and the boat took off.
I was trembling as I made my way over to Sabrina. Katie and Sabrina both took turns hugging me.
“You okay?” Katie asked.
I shook my head. “I never thought I’d get off the boat. It was…”
“It’s okay. You’re back now. Come on, we don’t want anyone to see us near the pier.” Sabrina grabbed my hand, and we raced after Mr. Sanchez towards the carriage.
We reached the carriage, all out of breath. Katie squeezed my hand. “I was so scared!”
“Me, too.”
Mr. Sanchez motioned for us to board the carriage.
“Thank you, sir,” I whispered. “How did you get the boat to come back?”
He pointed to his pocket. “Gold coins do wonders, thanks to Hashem, who really does all the wonders! Baruch Hashem, we got you back, and I just pray the children will reunite with their parents in Amsterdam. The other boat with their parents left a few hours ago.”
We sat in the carriage, which felt empty now without Ita, Ruthy, and Naftali. The carriage carried us swiftly through the woods.
The dark curtain of night was slowly lifting. We had little time before sunrise. Birds twittered. The scent of evergreen and lime filled the air.
None of us spoke. I still couldn’t believe what had happened. Thankfully, Mr. Sanchez had rescued me. Katie’s eyes were wide.
Sabrina whispered in my ear. “I hope those children will find their parents. There are so many dangers they can encounter on the way to Amsterdam. We should daven for them.”
I realized then that Sabrina always thought of others. She seemed not to worry about her own possible danger. She was really amazing. All I could think of was my own situation and how I almost lost any possibility of seeing my family again.
I stopped then and said a prayer for the children that they should reunite safely with their parents.
“Sabrina,” I whispered, “how do you stay so calm and always think about everyone else’s needs?”
Sabrina shrugged. Her dark eyes sparkled in the moonlight. “I want to be like my mother and my father, of blessed memory. They always looked out for others and made sure to help. Madre is always doing for others, and she taught me to think of each mitzvah as bringing Mashiach closer and the time when we will reunite with Padre again. My padre was never afraid. He told me something once that I always remember. It helps me if I ever do feel frightened. He said that Hashem is your shadow. In the darkness, you don’t see your shadow, but it’s still there with you. Just like your shadow follows you wherever you go in dark times and light, Hashem clings to you. When the sun is high in the sky and times are happy and peaceful, we see our shadow and we know it’s there. In dark times, Hashem is there, too, just like your shadow, so you never, ever have to be afraid. Just call out to Him when you are frightened and know that, like the night that melts into daylight, the scary times will go away.”
When we reached the castle, Mrs. Dolar greeted us and led us through the secret passageway back into the castle.
“Thank G-d. I was getting nervous. Thank you, Daniel.” Mrs. Dolar nodded towards Mr. Sanchez. Then she hugged each of us.
“Madre,” Sabrina studied her mother’s face. “You look tired. So much sewing. Please go rest.”
“Yes, but I want to hear how the children were. They got onto the boat safely?”
“Yes, Madre. Thankfully, all went smoothly.”
I noticed she didn’t want to worry her mother about the near-disaster of me heading to Amsterdam on that boat.
Just then, there was the sound of a carriage pulling up in front of the castle.
Mr. Sanchez peeked out the front window. “Elizabeth!” he called to Mrs. Dolar. “It’s Mrs. Cornwell’s carriage.”
My stomach clenched. Mrs. Cornwell was an informer.
To be continued…
Susie Garber is the author of 11 popular Jewish books, including her newly released historical fiction novel The Blizzard (Menucha 2026) and recently published novel Captured (Menucha 2025). She is also the current news editor of Binyan Magazine.
