In chapter 22-23 Gerta woke up and found that fritz was gone. He had left a note for Gerta to see but this was really weird. He never would leave without telling someone. Leaving Gerta scared at home. It was early in the morning too. Gerta started wondering if he went alone to keep her safe. Or if he’s trying to escape and just decided to leave. Gerta found a letter from her dad and decide to write on it and send it back. So she went to the post office and found fritz there too. She was so worried and wondered where he was. Fritz had amazing news that now they didn’t have to sneak the “garden” the natzi gave them permission and said they’ll own the garden and share the crops
In chapter 29 Gerta and fritz were digging when all of a sudden they ran into a rock. They thought it was small but when it wouldn’t budge they got kinda scared so they started pushing the shovel further and further in when it got stuck. Fritz thought it would be a good idea to hold on to the handle then jump. When he did that the shovel broke. They couldn’t buy a new one because the money they had was for groceries on their way back home. So gerta whispered to herself how they should steal one. Fritz heard her and asked if she suggested they do that.
In chapter 30, Gerta and Fritz got caught. They were digging and heard someone talking they wondered who it was but gerta has recognized the voice from last time. It was officer Muller. He was very mad and said that they were doing much more than gardening. He wanted to shoot them but instead let them go but gave them even scarier news. That the were in the death strip. That low beneath ground the death strip was the area between the 2 walls where the most guards were. So even it the make the slightest noise they would get into serious consequences. Life.
In chapter 31-35 fritz hit a pipe and water started flooding out of it. It was filling up the tunnel by the second and all their work would be gone. Fritz went to go find something to fix it meanwhile gerta is stuck underground blocking it. A rock fell on gertas arm creating a big gash then fritz came back to fix it. The next day they decide to tell their mom everything the was furious when she found out and told then i had to fill in the tunnel and stop digging. Since momma doesn’t let them go back gerta decides to do something productive and make things right with Anna but she ended up finding muddy boots.
In chapter 36-40 gerta her mom and fritz were digging. When they heard people ahead. Gerta was almost positive it was her dad and her mom and brother were cautious. They reason they were so hesitant to keep digging is because they thought it could be a guard waiting to catch digging like them. And if the would've go caught death would have came to them. They decided to keep digging because gerta had thought of something clever. What if the not was telling gerta that her dad and brother on the other side was digging to her. Not wanting gerta to dig to them. But since they have both already digged half way if their tunnels met they could all go to the west. Later on the found out is was papa and her brother dominic. They all let out their cries of joy until they realized papas tunnel was about to collapse and could kill them. And all the digging would be for nothing. If papa kept digging it would be the end. They had to find a way either risk typing to continue digging or turn around and stay separated.
In chapter 41-43 momma went back home and told the hidden voice mice that she was sick so that later on at work they weren’t suspicious that she wasn’t there. They went to the tunnel and heard stasi above them. Right as they were about to leave Anna came up behind Gerta and told her this whole time she was a spy. And that she had to tell the stasi about their tunnel. Anna told Gerta and her family to leave as quick as they could before she told. That’s when fritz got a message saying he had to leave for the army today meaning he wouldn’t be able to join his family. So they hurried up to leave when all of a sudden the police show up.
In chapter 44-47 the Grenzers asked where fritz was and momma had to lie saying that he would be back shortly to report to the military. Momma ended up bribing the officer to let them dig so Gerta and her mom made it into the tunnel, with the officers family following turning out to be Anna’s family. They were making their way through the tunnel when one of the officers kids started crying. Anna managed to calm him down. Everyone made it out eventually except Fritz and the officer. When police started shooting into the tunnel. Fritz took one in shot in the leg. That's when Gerta and her dad ran to help fritz while also running for their lives and freedom. They are still running while the police are shooting at them the officer saves Gerta getting a bullet in the chest and ends up not making it out alive. But Gerta's family is finally free.