Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who grabbed Ahmed by the sleeve of his hoodie?
Who grabbed Ahmed by the sleeve of his hoodie?
- The police
- An unknown bystander
- Ermir (correct)
- Ahmed's Father
What did Ahmed shout in English?
What did Ahmed shout in English?
- This is a mistake!
- I need help! (correct)
- You owe me!
- Goodbye!
Where did Ahmed run to escape?
Where did Ahmed run to escape?
- Into an open gate of a house (correct)
- Into the sea
- To the police station
- Back to the van
What did Ahmed nearly crash into in the backyard?
What did Ahmed nearly crash into in the backyard?
What was Ahmed inspecting to see if it was damaged?
What was Ahmed inspecting to see if it was damaged?
Where was the recessed cement patio located?
Where was the recessed cement patio located?
What was growing around the trunk of the small fruit tree?
What was growing around the trunk of the small fruit tree?
Which of the following did Ahmed NOT use to break into the house?
Which of the following did Ahmed NOT use to break into the house?
What did Ahmed feel warm and heavy on his wrist?
What did Ahmed feel warm and heavy on his wrist?
What was the room inside the house filled with?
What was the room inside the house filled with?
Where did Ahmed initially find himself after entering the basement?
Where did Ahmed initially find himself after entering the basement?
After entering the basement, what did Ahmed do in the bathroom?
After entering the basement, what did Ahmed do in the bathroom?
What kind of animal did Ahmed encounter in the basement?
What kind of animal did Ahmed encounter in the basement?
What was in the room next to the laundry room?
What was in the room next to the laundry room?
What did Ahmed find at the end of the hallway piled high with boxes?
What did Ahmed find at the end of the hallway piled high with boxes?
What was the first room in the subcellar like?
What was the first room in the subcellar like?
What caused Ahmed to realize that summer was ending?
What caused Ahmed to realize that summer was ending?
How did Ahmed navigate the cement room in the subcellar?
How did Ahmed navigate the cement room in the subcellar?
What did Ahmed break through to enter the third room in the subcellar?
What did Ahmed break through to enter the third room in the subcellar?
What was making the tent 'cozy' during the summer nights?
What was making the tent 'cozy' during the summer nights?
What did Ahmed do before leaving the tent?
What did Ahmed do before leaving the tent?
What did Ahmed switch on in the third room of the subcellar?
What did Ahmed switch on in the third room of the subcellar?
How much money did Ahmed give to Ermir?
How much money did Ahmed give to Ermir?
What was Ahmed's initial thought about the last room he discovered?
What was Ahmed's initial thought about the last room he discovered?
What kind of music was playing loudly in the van?
What kind of music was playing loudly in the van?
What did Ahmed promise to do in the note he left for Ibrahim?
What did Ahmed promise to do in the note he left for Ibrahim?
What was the smuggler's first name?
What was the smuggler's first name?
Why did Ermir ask Ahmed to hand over his phone?
Why did Ermir ask Ahmed to hand over his phone?
What did the smuggler ask Ahmed to hand over?
What did the smuggler ask Ahmed to hand over?
From where did Ahmed arrive by train?
From where did Ahmed arrive by train?
What was Ahmed able to see from the van's window?
What was Ahmed able to see from the van's window?
What was wrong with Ahmed's sneakers?
What was wrong with Ahmed's sneakers?
What did the van smell like?
What did the van smell like?
What kind of shops did Ahmed see that were open at night?
What kind of shops did Ahmed see that were open at night?
What did Ermir do that made Ahmed wish the music was back on?
What did Ermir do that made Ahmed wish the music was back on?
What did Ermir say to Ahmed that made him uncomfortable?
What did Ermir say to Ahmed that made him uncomfortable?
What did Ahmed clutch to protect from Ermir?
What did Ahmed clutch to protect from Ermir?
What did Ahmed demand after Ermir accelerated the van?
What did Ahmed demand after Ermir accelerated the van?
What was Ahmed's emotional state when he remembered the story about organ harvesting?
What was Ahmed's emotional state when he remembered the story about organ harvesting?
What was the name of the train station Ahmed saw?
What was the name of the train station Ahmed saw?
Flashcards
Ahmed
Ahmed
The protagonist who leaves the refugee camp to travel to Calais.
Calais
Calais
The final destination Ahmed is trying to reach in France.
Three hundred euros
Three hundred euros
The amount of money Ahmed pays for his ride to Calais.
Ermir
Ermir
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Escape without detection
Escape without detection
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A Thank You Note
A Thank You Note
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Phone
Phone
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Desperation
Desperation
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By Van
By Van
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Damp Conditions
Damp Conditions
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Distrust
Distrust
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Smuggling
Smuggling
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Hesitate
Hesitate
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Risk
Risk
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Shabby
Shabby
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Night shops
Night shops
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Stiffened
Stiffened
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Harvest
Harvest
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Boring (eyes)
Boring (eyes)
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Greedy
Greedy
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Subcellar
Subcellar
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Skeleton key
Skeleton key
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Dank smell
Dank smell
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Basement Storage Space
Basement Storage Space
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Laundry room
Laundry room
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Breaking into the house
Breaking into the house
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Throat burned
Throat burned
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Damp Room
Damp Room
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Tiptoeing
Tiptoeing
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Heart thumping
Heart thumping
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Catapulted
Catapulted
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"Help!"
"Help!"
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Backyard
Backyard
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Drenched
Drenched
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Ivy and Weeds
Ivy and Weeds
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Cement Patio
Cement Patio
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Hot Tears
Hot Tears
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Father's Watch
Father's Watch
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Dry Throat
Dry Throat
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Bikes and Skis
Bikes and Skis
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Study Notes
- The chapter begins on the night of September 1, which is marked by a drop in temperature
- Summer is ending, and the cool nights contrast the tent's warmth from bodies huddling together
- Rain seeps through volunteers' blue plastic tarps, dampening the ground
Ahmed's Departure
- Ahmed listens to Ibrahim snoring and Bana whining while Zainab comforts her
- He puts on his shoes, checks for the 300 euros his father hid in his passport, and kisses Bana
- Kissing Bana reminds him of his little sister Nouri
- Ahmed leaves a note for Ibrahim, thanking him for his promise and vowing to connect in Calais
- He crawls out of the tent into the muddy ground, his sneaker sole peeling off
Encounter with Ermir, the Smuggler
- Ahmed spots an idling van and knocks on the window
- Ermir, an unshaven man with a prominent Adam's apple, is in the driver's seat
- Ermir speaks English and agreed to drive Ahmed to Calais
- Ahmed gives Ermir the 300 euros, which Ermir counts and pockets
The Ride and Growing Unease
- The van smells like cigarettes and old cabbage
- After the doors lock, Ermir drives onto the road
- Ermir asks for Ahmed's phone, promising to return it in Calais but citing a rule against using it in the van
Escalating Tension
- Ermir stops the van and suspects Ahmed may not be worth the effort
- Since arriving by train from Germany, Ahmed has only seen the park and Gare du Nord station
- Ahmed hands over his phone
- Skyscrapers are dark and deserted, with narrow, curving streets and shabby row houses with shuttered shops
- Ten minutes later, Ermir turns off the music and reveals his intentions, saying 300 euros is not enough
Attempted Robbery
- Ahmed remembers a story about a smuggler involved in organ harvesting
- Ermir notices Ahmed's watch and attempts to steal it
Escape
- The light turns green and Ermir hits the gas to intimidate Ahmed
- Ahmed lunges for the locked door and kicks into the passenger seat
- Ahmed tumbles out of the van, ripping the sleeve of his hoodie
Seeking Refuge
- Ahmed runs down a quiet street past an apartment building with large houses
- He finds an open gate and runs into a backyard, nearly hitting a brick wall
Hiding
- Ahmed finds ivy-covered walls and a dark house
- The backyard has a recessed cement patio
- Ahmed finds a set of glass doors at the back of the patio and enters the house
Discovery
- The house has an unlocked door that leads into a basement storage area
- Ahmed finds a bathroom and drinks water from the tap
Exploring the House
- A white cat leads Ahmed to a laundry room, a room with furniture, and a hallway with boxes
- He finds a skeleton key in a small door
The Subcellar
- Using the key, Ahmed finds a damp, dark subcellar below the basement
- The subcellar is a series of rooms: an empty room with dirt walls, a cement room, and a third room beyond a low arch
- In the third room, light from a high window reveals a switch, which Ahmed turns on to reveal a room with cubicles along the walls
- Ahmed realizes he may have found a crypt
Contemplation and Decision
- Ahmed considers that someone might find him and arrest him for breaking and entering
- He decides to stay there for a night or two
Settling In
- Ahmed gets a towel and blanket from the laundry room
- He returns to the subcellar, strips off his wet clothes, and collapses onto the blanket
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Description
Test your understanding of Ahmed's escape. Questions cover key details such as who grabbed him, where he ran, and what he found in the basement. Explore the sequence of events in Ahmed's flight and subsequent discoveries.
