- The train ride only takes a few hours. After arriving, the boys hop out and quickly get off the road; they still have to walk about five miles before reaching Nicholai.
- Finally, they see a cottage with a burly, bearded man outside. Sounds like our guy. Alex approaches him and tells him that he has a "letter from Leningrad" (13.16), which presumably is a code of some sort.
- Nicholai brings Alex inside and tells him to bring the boys into the house in small groups. They have to keep it low-key because there are tons of soldiers around these parts.
- (By the way, there are twelve kids in total and Nicholai has never transported more than four at a time. So, um, fingers crossed.)
- The kids settle in for some much-deserved rest. They're woken (and a bit freaked out) by some noises outside, but Nicholai quietly explains that it's just some alcohol smugglers doing their work.
- The next day, Nicholai reveals that this event gave him a stroke of inspiration: His boat might be too small to fit everyone, but the smugglers' boat has room to spare.
- That night, the whole crew is huddled in the bushes as Nicholai packs supplies into his boat. He's questioned by two soldiers, but Nicholai manages to convince them to leave.
- With the soldiers gone, the boys quickly push the smugglers' boat into the water. Nicholai is nearby in his own small boat, with Anya in tow.
- With that, they start paddling away. Peter and Alex discuss what "it will be like" (13.45) in Finland, but their conversation is interrupted by whispers from Nicholai telling them to hide.
- Surprise: it's more soldiers. Once again, however, Nicholai uses his silver tongue to get them out of harm's way.
- The boys question Nicholai about their future. He's not sure exactly where they'll end up, but knows that it'll be better than where they're coming from.
- As the shore of Finland enters their vision, Nicholai tells them it's time for him to head home, which leaves them to finish their trek on their own.
- Peter shoots a flare as they approach land, which is met by a bright burst of "light on the shore" (13.77). Holy smokes—this might actually work.
- The water is still pretty frozen, however, so they'll have to walk the rest of the way.
- To Alex's surprise, Peter tells him that he's not leaving. He has decided to head back and help Nicholai "fish" (13.87), which is a fancy metaphor for "smuggling Soviet citizens out of the country" (13.87). Good for you, Petey boy. Though he's sad to leave his friend, Alex makes his way to the shore.
- That's when he hears a voice behind him that makes his "heart nearly jump from his chest" (13.96). Though the book doesn't say exactly who this is, we're pretty sure you can guess…