Jakob and Lizzie finally discover the truth of their mother’s actions in this section, putting to rest the fear that she has died, as well as the fear that Willa was a traitor, providing some resolution to the text’s exploration of The Ethics of Espionage. The Colonel calls Willa’s cover story “[a] necessary fiction” (297), but this doesn’t offer proper appreciation for Willa’s war efforts or heal the wounds that her lies left on her children. However, despite the sacrifices and moral ambiguities surrounding the actions of Willa, Jakob, and Lizzie, they now better understand each other and recognize that Willa’s actions were necessary to save others’ lives.

While Jakob and Lizzie have found some closure, the overarching danger of WWII has now reached them, putting The Nature of Wartime Spirit to the test. The initial dropping of the bombs kills thousands, beginning the infamous Blitz that damaged Britian’s infrastructure and caused many casualties. The citizens, however, remain defiant. As Jakob asserts, “if Hitler was hoping to break our spirit, to sow panic and despair, he must be sadly disappointed. Londoners emerge at daylight, sweep the rubble from their doorways, and go about their day” (311). While more struggles lie ahead, Britain remains undefeated and determined to keep fighting.

The final section also offers more important growth in Jakob and Lizzie’s character arcs and dynamics with one another. Jakob’s anxiety that he is letting down both the codebreaking team and the memory of his father is now put to rest, as he has now gained more confidence in his abilities. He recalls his earlier desire to contribute to the war effort and thinks, “Now we have most definitely punched Hitler in the mouth” (312). The value of Jakob’s hard work isn’t lost on Lizzie, either. She experiences a key coming-of-age moment when the bombs drop. Until now, she has been unable to grasp the full dangers of the war and the importance of Jakob’s codebreaking contributions. When the bombs drop, she whispers to Jakob, overwhelmed, “I’m sorry […] I underestimated the importance of your work” (307). In offering appreciation for Jakob, Lizzie helps to heal their rift and brings the siblings closer together than ever before.

The novel ends on a complex and somewhat unresolved note. Jakob and Lizzie are granted proof that Willa is alive, thus completing their quest in the narrative, but their emotional need to see their mother and receive her care and support is unsatisfied. They are offered only the briefest reassurance before being left alone again, forced to care for each other. This open-ended conclusion to the siblings’ wartime experiences leaves room for the possibility of an ultimately happy ending, while still acknowledging the great dangers and sacrifices that await them. Amid the bombing, Lizzie thinks:

How long will the war last, and how many countries will be affected? I think of our brave young soldiers, so willing to give their lives, and boys like Colin, who are desperate to join them. And what does this feel like for the older men who experienced the first war, followed by the Depression? Is there no reprieve? The magnitude of it presses in on me, overwhelming. I’m so grateful to be with my brother (307).

With the war raging on, Lizzie can’t help but consider the breadth of terror occurring. This fear and lack of satisfaction—arising from the inability to know how long the war will continue—is challenging, yet the characters find strength in each other, with Lizzie feelings especially “grateful for [her]” brother.”

At the Mutton Inn, the characters gather to cope with the ongoing tension. Simon has been deemed MIA, Willa is still gone, and the future is uncertain, but they all have new bonds as well. With Jarvis having abandoned his investigation of Willa, Jakob and Lizzie engaging in their own romantic relationships, their friends safe, Colin accepting the loss of his brother and pursuing his interests, and the war effort furthered by the code breakers’ actions, everyone can find something positive to cling to.

Mr. Berrycloth raises his glass in the final pages, remarking, “[H]ow proud and grateful I am to every British citizen, young and old, who is doing their part, in whatever way they can, to serve our homeland—especially those who have given their life in the process. Who knows what the future holds, but we shall endure it together” (325). The characters’ commitment to camaraderie, courage, and endurance thus ends the novel on a note of hope, even though the war is not yet over.