The Aftermath
Rhidian Brook
Contributed by Carey Speaks
Chapter 14
Summary

Lubert watches Claudia seated in an armchair sewing a sampler. She looked calmer than Lubert had recalled her ever being. Watching Claudia from a distance makes Lubert feel unworthy of her (Brook 286). The thought of cheating on his wife and thinking she was dead makes Lubert feel as if he had not been true to her memory. However, Lubert realizes that nothing is missing after seeing the first piece of embroidery that Claudia had stitched.

In another scene, Lewis is at the Intelligence Office with Burnham and Donnell. He is informed of their progress with Frieda’s interrogation. Burnham and Donnell are unaware that the assassin is dead and, thus, insist on continuing the interrogation with the focus of getting Frieda to provide Albert’s hiding location. Moreover, Burnham insists that although Frieda is a fifteen-year-old, she has committed an offense, hence, must face the consequences. However, Lewis informs Burnham that he watched Barker’s killer sink to his death and asks Donnell and Burnham to let Frieda go. To persuade Major Burhmam to let Frieda go, Colonel Lewis provides Burnham with a file named ‘The Unauthorized Export of Valuables from German Properties" in which Burnham was among the people that had been known to steal (Brook 293). Finally, Burnham gives in to Lewis and allows him to take Frieda. Lewis decides to take Frieda to her mother with the hope of easing her anger and blame towards the British. In this chapter, readers learn that Frieda is already pregnant.

Analysis

In this chapter, the author seems to suggest that the die-hard Nazi ‘88’ movement was defeated with the death of its leader, Albert. Forgiveness starts to overcome hatred when Lewis decides to help save Frieda from Burnham’s justice and not only does he takes her home but also takes her to see her mother. Brook seems to suggest that Lewis’ system of belief will only work if he leads by example. Lubert and Claudia’s reunion is an indication that there is hope for missing people to reunite with their families again. Unlike Burnham who believes that evil should be repaid with evil, Lewis seems to believe that to rebuild the nation and rehabilitate people, leaders must not only show sympathy but must also try to understand the core of German anger and frustration.

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