Cilka's Journey

Content Warning: This study guide contains depictions of genocide, rape, sexual assault, suicide, and drug addiction.

When Cilka returns to the hospital’s general ward, the other nurses greet her. She sets immediately to work, helping the victims of a mine explosion. The following day, Cilka helps Yelena remove a metal spoon from a prisoner’s stomach. Before the operation, Yelena sees Cilka’s tattoo from Auschwitz and asks some questions about it and her family, but Cilka doesn’t answer them. Cilka asks if the Nazis have been brought to justice, and Yelena assures her that they have and offers her support whenever Cilka feels the need to talk about her past experiences. After the surgery, Yelena invites Cilka to assist her more often, and Cilka agrees.

Cilka walks into the dispensary to get medication for another nurse and sees a prisoner holding a knife to Yury Petrovich’s throat. The prisoner, a camp trustie, demands that Cilka enter the room and close the door, where he releases Yury and holds Cilka at knifepoint instead. Yury gives the trustie medicine, and the trustie says he’ll be back in two weeks for more and leaves the room. Yury tells Cilka that the trustie cornered him several months ago and has been threatening him ever since.