Briar Rose Chapter 22 Summary

  • Becca sleeps in the next morning. When she wakes up, she and Magda discuss Chelmno.
  • They understand it's going to be a difficult visit, but Becca needs to know what Gemma's connection to the place is. Magda understands.
  • They drive to Chelmno. Magda tries to ask a passerby, a woman, about the extermination camp, but the stranger doesn't wish to discuss it.
  • They see a group of men and ask the same question. No luck. Plus, one of the men says something anti-Semitic. This doesn't bode well.
  • The woman, the passerby from before, takes pity on Magda and tells her to talk to the local priest. He'll have the information they're looking for.
  • Becca and Magda make their way to the church. Becca's in luck: the priest speaks English.
  • The priest explains that the locals feel very guilty about what happened. They were victimized by the Nazis, but they still feel as though they should have done more for the Jewish prisoners who were killed in their town.
  • As the three walk across the town, they come upon the ruins of a castle. Hmm…could this be the castle that Gemma was talking about?
  • Becca becomes very upset. The three retreat to the priest's office for coffee.
  • The priest tells them about a friend, Josef Potocki, who was a partisan during the war. Perhaps Josef could meet the two women. Maybe for more coffee.
  • The priest calls Josef and makes the arrangements. Josef will meet Becca and Magda at their hotel in the evening.