Podcast
Questions and Answers
What did Ahmed use to write a note to Ibrahim?
What did Ahmed use to write a note to Ibrahim?
- A pen (correct)
- A rock
- A crayon
- His finger
What was the smuggler's first name?
What was the smuggler's first name?
- Ermir (correct)
- Ibrahim
- Bana
- Ahmed
How much money did Ahmed give the smuggler?
How much money did Ahmed give the smuggler?
- Two hundred euros
- One hundred euros
- Five hundred euros
- Three hundred euros (correct)
Where was the money that Ahmed used to pay the smuggler originally?
Where was the money that Ahmed used to pay the smuggler originally?
What kind of music was playing in the smuggler's van?
What kind of music was playing in the smuggler's van?
What did Ahmed promise Ibrahim in his note?
What did Ahmed promise Ibrahim in his note?
Where was Ahmed headed when he left the park?
Where was Ahmed headed when he left the park?
What did the smuggler ask Ahmed for after he got in the van?
What did the smuggler ask Ahmed for after he got in the van?
What was the weather like when Ahmed left the tent?
What was the weather like when Ahmed left the tent?
What sign did Ahmed notice that indicated summer was ending?
What sign did Ahmed notice that indicated summer was ending?
Why did Ermir tell Ahmed to give him his phone?
Why did Ermir tell Ahmed to give him his phone?
Where had Ahmed arrived from before reaching Brussels?
Where had Ahmed arrived from before reaching Brussels?
What was Ahmed's initial impression of Brussels?
What was Ahmed's initial impression of Brussels?
What did Ahmed see that hinted at something darker in the city?
What did Ahmed see that hinted at something darker in the city?
What did Ermir do that made Ahmed feel uneasy?
What did Ermir do that made Ahmed feel uneasy?
What amount of money did Ermir initially agree upon?
What amount of money did Ermir initially agree upon?
What did Ahmed clutch when Ermir demanded more?
What did Ahmed clutch when Ermir demanded more?
What did Ahmed want Ermir to do when he felt threatened?
What did Ahmed want Ermir to do when he felt threatened?
What was Ahmed's emotional state when Ermir asked for more money?
What was Ahmed's emotional state when Ermir asked for more money?
What type of shops were open at night in the area?
What type of shops were open at night in the area?
Where does Ahmed initially find himself after entering the house?
Where does Ahmed initially find himself after entering the house?
What does Ahmed do immediately after entering the storage space?
What does Ahmed do immediately after entering the storage space?
What does Ahmed do in the bathroom he finds?
What does Ahmed do in the bathroom he finds?
What color is the cat that startles Ahmed?
What color is the cat that startles Ahmed?
What does Ahmed find in the laundry room?
What does Ahmed find in the laundry room?
What is Ahmed tempted to do in the laundry room?
What is Ahmed tempted to do in the laundry room?
What does Ahmed find sticking out of the small door at the end of the hallway?
What does Ahmed find sticking out of the small door at the end of the hallway?
What does Ahmed hear when he opens the small door?
What does Ahmed hear when he opens the small door?
What does Ahmed use to guide himself in the cement room?
What does Ahmed use to guide himself in the cement room?
What illuminates the final room Ahmed discovers?
What illuminates the final room Ahmed discovers?
What did Ahmed do to escape Ermir?
What did Ahmed do to escape Ermir?
After escaping the van, what did Ahmed shout?
After escaping the van, what did Ahmed shout?
Where did Ahmed run after escaping the van?
Where did Ahmed run after escaping the van?
What did Ahmed nearly crash into in the backyard?
What did Ahmed nearly crash into in the backyard?
What was the condition of the garden Ahmed ended up in?
What was the condition of the garden Ahmed ended up in?
What did Ahmed find at the back of the house?
What did Ahmed find at the back of the house?
What was Ahmed inspecting on his wrist?
What was Ahmed inspecting on his wrist?
What part of his body did Ahmed notice was scraped?
What part of his body did Ahmed notice was scraped?
What did Ahmed need after his escape?
What did Ahmed need after his escape?
What did Ahmed find when he tried the back door of the house?
What did Ahmed find when he tried the back door of the house?
Flashcards
September 1st
September 1st
The night Ahmed leaves the tent in the park, signaling the end of summer.
Tarps' purpose
Tarps' purpose
Blue plastic sheets used to cover the tents, but they were not entirely effective.
Three Hundred Euros
Three Hundred Euros
The amount of money Ahmed's father gave him, hidden in his passport.
Calais
Calais
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Ermir
Ermir
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Albanian Techno
Albanian Techno
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Van's Smell
Van's Smell
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Phone confiscation
Phone confiscation
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Ahmed's Phone
Ahmed's Phone
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Calais purpose
Calais purpose
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Ahmed's limited view of Brussels
Ahmed's limited view of Brussels
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Night shops
Night shops
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Ermir's demand for more money
Ermir's demand for more money
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Ahmed's fear
Ahmed's fear
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The Seamaster watch
The Seamaster watch
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Smuggler's Tactics
Smuggler's Tactics
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Locked Door
Locked Door
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Ahmed's emotional state
Ahmed's emotional state
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Ahmed's self-talk
Ahmed's self-talk
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Ermir's behavior
Ermir's behavior
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Catapult
Catapult
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Charge
Charge
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Apartment building
Apartment building
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Hunker
Hunker
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Unkempt
Unkempt
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Tendril
Tendril
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Patio
Patio
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Half-expecting
Half-expecting
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Unscathed
Unscathed
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Peer
Peer
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Subcellar
Subcellar
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Skeleton Key
Skeleton Key
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Drenched
Drenched
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Dank Smell
Dank Smell
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Tiptoeing
Tiptoeing
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Crept (verb)
Crept (verb)
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Whipped Around
Whipped Around
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Stroke of Luck
Stroke of Luck
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Strip off
Strip off
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Shifting
Shifting
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Study Notes
- The chapter begins on the night of September 1, marking the end of summer
- Ahmed notes that it had been a cool summer, and the tent where he was staying was only cozy due to the body heat of those around him.
- The rain begins to seep into the tent despite the tarps.
- Ahmed listens as Ibrahim snores and Bana whines in her sleep until Zainab pulls her closer.
Ahmed's departure
- Ahmed puts on his shoes and checks for the 300 euros his father hid in his passport.
- He kisses Bana, reminiscent of how he kissed his little sister Nouri, Bana smiles slightly.
- Ahmed leaves a note for Ibrahim, thanking him for honoring his promise and assuring him he will be in touch once he reaches Calais.
- He leaves the tent and notes the ground is muddy and his shoe is peeling off.
- He approaches an idling van.
- An unshaven man with a prominent Adam's apple waves Ahmed inside.
- The van is filled with smoke and Albanian techno music.
- The driver, Ermir, says Ahmed's name as if he has known him for a long time.
- Ermir is a smuggler who speaks English and agreed to drive Ahmed to Calais.
- Ahmed hands Ermir the 300 euros, and Ermir tells him to take a seat in the back of the van.
- The van smells of cigarette smoke and old cabbage.
- Ermir locks the doors and drives off; Ahmed reflects on the park disappearing behind him.
- Ermir asks for Ahmed's phone, promising to return it in Calais and saying that he does not want Ahmed using it in the van.
- Despite his hesitation, Ahmed gives Ermir his phone.
Journey turns sour
- Since arriving in Germany by train, Ahmed has not seen much of Brussels.
- The Gare du Nord station and the park are dirty and crowded.
- The area transitions from skyscrapers to narrow streets with shabby row houses protected by metal grates.
- The only signs of life are a few lone men smoking and the neon signs of night shops
- Ermir turns off the music, and the only sounds are the wipers and the tapping of Ermir's cigarette.
- Ermir tells Ahmed that 300 euros is not enough, and admits it barely covers the gas for the journey.
- Ahmed is alarmed, recalling a story of a smuggler threatening to harvest a refugee's organs for payment, as a kidney is worth more than 300 euros on the black market.
- Ahmed explains that he does not have any more money.
Escape
- Ermir stops at a red light and stares intensely at Ahmed, noticing and commenting on his watch.
- Ahmed clutches his watch to shield it as Ermir turns to him.
- Ermir hits the gas when the light turns green, Ahmed is jerked back into his seat.
- Ahmed tries to get out, but the doors are locked.
- Ahmed catapults himself into the passenger seat and flings open the door, tumbling out of the van as Ermir slams on the brakes.
- Ahmed runs away from the van.
- Ahmed hears Ermir slam the door and speed off, imagining Ermir running him over to steal his watch.
Seeking refuge
- Ahmed shouts for help, but no one answers.
- He turns onto a quiet street with large houses behind iron gates.
- An open gate allows him to run into a backyard where he nearly crashes into a brick wall.
- After jumping to the other side of the wall, Ahmed coughs, gags, and is drenched.
- He scratches his face on the branches of a bush.
- He finds a recessed cement patio beneath an overhang.
- Ahmed watches the wall, fearing Ermir will follow.
- Comforted by the familiar ticking and weight of his father's watch, he inspects it for damage.
- His watch is undamaged, but he can see scrapes on his elbows.
- He needs water, and finds some glass doors leading into a house.
Breaking and entering
- Ahmed opens the unlocked door into a storage room filled with bikes, helmets, a skateboard, and skis.
- He removes his sneakers and socks before entering the house.
- He finds a bathroom and drinks water from the tap.
- A white cat appears and runs into the next room.
- Ahmed follows the cat into a laundry room, then into a cluttered room with furniture and a stack of chairs.
- He slips through another door into a low hallway filled with packing boxes.
- The hallway leads him to a small door with a skeleton key.
- Ahmed unlocks the door and enters a dark, damp subcellar with dirt walls.
- He finds a cement room and navigates through cobwebs into a third room with a high window and a light switch.
The crypt refuge
- Ahmed thinks the basement is a crypt.
- The walls of the room are lined with deep cubicles.
- The room is empty except for cobwebs and an alcove in the wall beneath the small window.
- Ahmed considers staying there for a night or two and attempts to come up with a plan.
- Ahmed goes to the laundry room for a towel and a blanket.
- He returns to the subcellar, strips off his wet clothes, and collapsed onto the blanket.
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Description
Questions covering plot points, character details, and setting in Ahmed's journey to Brussels. Explore Ahmed's interactions with the smuggler, the contents of his note to Ibrahim, and his observations of the city.
