Chapter 67 Summary: Northward Bound

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The deportees endure weeks of travel north on barges along the Angara River before transferring to trucks. They drive through dense forests for days, seeing no human beings, only fallen trees of enormous size. Daily heat and nightly cold give way to healing blisters. They eat every offered meal gratefully, relieved not to be put to work. The trucks arrive at Ust Kut on the Lena River, where they wait for barges again. It rains steadily, and the flimsy tents offer scant protection. Lina guards her suitcase containing Dombey and Son, a stone, her drawings, and a family photograph. Janina stands in the rain talking to herself. Kretzsky patrols, ordering everyone to stay in groups; at night he watches the moonlight on the river while smoking. Lina's Russian improves, though Jonas remains more fluent. After two weeks barges finally arrive, and the NKVD boards them to float north. They pass Kirensk. Jonas wonders if they might sail to America, but Lina reminds him they would leave Papa behind. The repeater constantly discusses America, attempting to draw maps from secondhand reports. Joana mentions an uncle in Pennsylvania. Lina draws a portrait of a bald man, who demands she destroy it. When she refuses, he warns her to keep drawings hidden. As Lina questions him about his deportation, he rebuffs her. Janina sits beside Lina and declares she will be a famous artist. The bald man retorts that she cannot be famous unless she is dead. Janina responds, "My dolly's dead."

Key Events

• The group travels north for weeks via barges and trucks, reaching Ust Kut on the Lena River.
• They wait two weeks in rain with inadequate shelter; Kretzsky enforces discipline.
• Lina's Russian improves; Jonas still surpasses her in language ability.
• Lina draws a portrait of a bald man, who reacts with hostility and threatens her.
• Janina shows deepening psychological distress, standing in rain and talking to herself.
• The bald man insults Lina's artistic future; Janina counters but then reveals her doll is dead.
• Jonas and the repeater cling to the dream of America, though Lina questions leaving Papa behind.

Character Development

Lina Vilkas continues to assert her identity through art, drawing despite threats. She shows resilience by protecting her belongings and practicing Russian. She questions Jonas about America, demonstrating her loyalty to her father.

Jonas Vilkas remains hopeful, even irrationally, that they might sail to America. He avoids discussing the impossibility, showing his need for a better future. His language skills still outpace Lina's.

Janina displays deepening trauma. She stands in the rain conversing with no one and later makes a cryptic statement about her doll being dead. Her defense of Lina's art shows a brief spark of connection.

Kretzsky maintains his role as enforcer, ordering deportees to stay grouped. At night he reveals a solitary, contemplative presence as he watches the moonlit river.

The bald man (unnamed) is hostile and secretive. He was deported but claims he was a stamp collector; he refuses to explain further. He threatens Lina to destroy her drawing and warns against displaying art, suggesting the danger of individual expression in the camp.

Joana provides information about America through a supposed uncle in Pennsylvania, indicating some deportees have family contacts abroad.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Journey as erasure: The constant movement north through dark forests and rivers reinforces the sense of being removed from civilization and disappearing into an unknown.

Art as defiance: Lina's drawing, despite the bald man's threats, represents a rebellion against the NKVD's attempt to destroy personal identity. The man's demand to tear it up underscores the authorities' fear of creative expression.

Hope for America: Jonas, the repeater, and Joana cling to the idea of America as a promised land. This desperate hope functions as a coping mechanism against the grim reality of deportation. Lina's skepticism grounds the narrative in the likelihood of prolonged exile.

The Lena River: Symbolizes the boundary into deeper isolation. The silvery ribbon of moonlight suggests a beauty that contrasts with the suffering, and Kretzsky's attraction to it might hint at his own inner conflict.

Janina's doll: The mention of "my dolly's dead" implies loss of innocence and possibly a child's death, reflecting the traumatic experiences of children in the camps.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter underscores the relentless physical journey and the psychological toll on the deportees. It highlights Lina's continued commitment to her art as a means of preserving her humanity and memory. The bald man's hostility illustrates that not all prisoners are united; suspicion and fear turn people against each other. Janina's deteriorating mental state foreshadows the ongoing trauma of children separated from their families. Jonas's persistent hope for America, despite the implausibility, shows how the deportees use fantasy to survive. The chapter also marks the deepening bond between Lina and her remaining community, even as they face increasing hardship.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Lina continue to draw despite the bald man's threats?
Lina draws because art is a crucial part of her identity and a way to document her experiences. The bald man's warning reflects the dangers of individualism under totalitarian rule, but Lina refuses to stop creating. She believes her drawings matter, as evidenced by her protecting them in her suitcase.

2. How does Janina's behavior in this chapter reflect her psychological state?
Janina stands in the rain talking to no one, indicating dissociation and trauma. She defends Lina's artistic ambitions but then abruptly states her doll is dead, suggesting a connection to a previous loss. These signs point to the severe emotional damage caused by the deportation and the loss of her family.

3. What role does the belief in America serve for Jonas and the repeater?
Belief in America gives Jonas and the repeater a concrete hope to focus on, making their suffering seem temporary. Jonas avoids discussing the impossibility of leaving Papa; the repeater maps out details from hearsay. This shared fantasy provides psychological survival but also creates tension with Lina's realism.

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