As Christmas approaches, Martin has been in Dachau for over a month and his family remains without a plan for getting him out. However, Friedrich receives a package from Elizabeth: there is money hidden in the false bottom of a tin of cookies. The neighbor who delivers them tells Uncle Gunter she has reason to believe he will be questioned soon. Friedrich writes Elisabeth to thank her.

Friedrich comes up with a plan to save his father and his uncle: Gunter will leave for Switzerland right away, and Friedrich will bribe a guard to get his father out before joining him in Switzerland. Uncle Gunter is reluctant to leave Friedrich alone, but he agrees, asking Friedrich where his new bravery came from. He replies, “From Father, and you. And even Elisabeth. If she can jeopardize everything important in her life to save Father, shouldn’t I?” (177).

Uncle Gunter leaves for Berne, and Friedrich prepares the speech he will give to the guard—"'My family is ready to receive my father back into the world of Hitler’s Germany’”—over and over again so that he can say them without hesitation, even though they make him feel sick (180).