Yes, but they are all players for the Lions, and shes a little lion! The Lions was the nickname of the Industriales. Ill be a man soon enough, Josef told them. This must have been the Castilloss plan all alongfor Luis and his girlfriend to run away with them! St. Louis was the name of a city in America, Josef had learned. Yet Mahmoud also hints at some of the drawbacks that come with being invisible, such as the fact that Mahmoud and Khalid had to stop being friends, thus cutting off a vital source of support for Mahmoud. She listened now, intently, trying to hear the heartbeat of Cuba in her own music. Children with missing limbs. Josef Landau, Isabel Fernandez, and Mahmoud Bishara are the primary protagonists of Refugee. Waleed went back to watching cartoons. Isabel cried out and let go of the boat. But for Mahmoud, the scene brought back memories of another time, just after the war had begun. Castro just said anybody who wants to can leave! Isabel felt as though her heart had been ripped out of her chest. 1st trip on a cruise like boat. Teachers and parents! Find more similar flip PDFs like refugee_-_alan_gratz. Luiss girlfriend gasped and then suddenly exploded with laughter. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. As she blew, her fingers tapped out the notes she knew by heart. Apparently, they were all coming along for the ride. All four of them burst out laughing, and Josef and Renata pulled the two younger children away before they could be caught. The kittens nose sniffed eagerly at the air, and it meowed. In all the turmoil, a policeman caught up with her father and grabbed him by the arm. This gains a large amount of media attention, and Austrians greet them at the border with food, water, and medicine. explaining through the translator that she is a toy designer. Evelyne and Renata were the genuine names of two sisters who came on the St. Louis, and they were the only ones permitted to disembark in Cuba since their father already resided there and had significant relations to the local authorities. Empathy and Social Responsibility. what were two observations the boys made about lesbos from the boat? Isabel watched as Mami cleaned his cuts with a washcloth. Mama spent weeks going from one government office to another, trying to find out where her husband was and how to get him back. But everyone seemed to be having fun. The card tables had been pushed to the sides of the room, and stewards were adding more chairs People had even broken into the Havana Zoo and eaten the animals, and cats like this little kitten had ended up on dinner tables. Hundreds of them. What are you doing? Mahmouds father dove back into the front seat and yanked the iPhone and the charger cord from the Mercedes just as bullets ripped into the car again. One issue she experiences, however, is that she is unable to count a Cuban rhythm called clave, which she thinks is supposed to come naturally to Cubans. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Assad made people who didnt like him disappear. Mahmoud remembered his uncles wedding, before the war. Mahmoud realizes it is up to him to do something. perspective of Refugee. Mahmoud realizes he is finally home. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. His teacher, Herr Meier, had called him to the front of the room. ShhhhhHHHHHHTHOOOOOOM! There was a riot on the Malecn, Lito said. Just four years ago, Aleppo had been a beautiful, bright city, until 2011 came and a wave of revolutions swept through the Middle East. What do the boat smugglers keep telling Mahmouds family? A roar like a hot wind rising outside. Without Russias gas, they couldnt run the tractors to change the fields over to food, and without the extra food, the Cuban people began to starve. But, eventually he and his family find a new home and get a chance at a new start. It wasnt my mother and father, and you, Lito. It was Isabels favorite place in the whole city. Dont! Her brown face was splotchy with freckles, and her thick black hair was cut short for summer and pulled back behind her ears. He hesitated while everyone stared at him, his eyes searching Castros face on the bottom of the boat as though there were answers hidden there. . Josef! Then, they sneak into Serbia in a taxi, as they dont have official papers. When Youssef and Mahmoud return to their cell and pass, Mahmoud: Hungary 2015, 17 days from home, refugee camp in a cold, muddy field surrounded by wired fence. feet, he wasnt coming back. The policemen pulled off their berets, and Isabel recognized one of them instantlyone was Luis, the Castilloss elder son! I just want to keep my family safe, Dad said. Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 6 days, Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 8 days, Isabel: Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (1), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 10 days, Isabel: Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (2), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 11 days, Isabel: The Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (3), Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey 2015, 11 days (1), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 14 days, Isabel: The Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (4), Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey 2015, 11 days (2), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 17 days, Isabel: Straits of Florida 1994, 2 days, Mahmoud: The Mediterranean 2015, 11 days (1), Mahmoud: The Mediterranean 2015, 11 days (2), Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida 1994, 4 days, Mahmoud: The Mediterranean 2015, 11 days (3), Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida 1994, 5 days (1), Mahmoud: Lesbos to Athens 2015, 12 days (3), Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida 1994, 5 days (2), Mahmoud: Macedonia to Serbia 2015, 14-15 days, Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (1), Mahmoud: Serbia to Hungary 2015, 15-16 days, Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (2), Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (3), Josef: Vornay, France 1940, 1 year, 1 month, 10 days, Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (4), Mahmoud: Hungary to Germany 2015, 17 days. Josefs mother and sister left to go back to visit his father in their cabin. Mahmoud's mother. When another dinghy passes by that doesnt have space for his family, he offers up Hana to them in order to ensure that she can survive. He wasnt literally invisible. If he were a Turkish border guard, he wouldnt have let in any of these dirty, squalid people, himself included. Were you able to get the cash weve put away? Mahmouds mother nodded, but she was clearly still worried. They endure false alarms like this for a week straight, returning dejectedly each time to an abandoned mall that offers shelter. He screamed even louder than his little sister, drowning her out. Mahmoud finally sees the power of visibility when he decides to walk out of the Hungarian detention center and lead the other refugees on a 12-hour march to Austria. Until 2011, when the Arab Spring came to Syria. Refugee Character Analysis Josef Landau Josef is a 13-year-old Jewish boy living in Germany in the 1930s. He treated them like real passengers. Thank you. Josef took a seat in the section with the men. Always quick to raise his hand in class, and always with the right answer. They broke lamps and lightbulbs. Explore books by genre, topic, reading level, or series to find your next read. -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Mahmoud Bishara appears in. That prompted someone to break out food and drinks, even though it was late. Josef: Just outside Havana Harbor1939 Isabel: Somewhere between the Bahamas and Florida1994 Mahmoud: Lesbos, Greece, to Athens, Greece2015 Josef: Just outside Havana Harbor1939 Isabel: Somewhere between the Bahamas and Florida1994 Mahmoud: Macedonia to Serbia2015 Josef: Off the American Coast1939 Isabel: Off the Coast of Florida1994 Mahmoud: Serbia to Hungary2015 Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean1939 Isabel: Off the Coast of Florida1994 Mahmoud: Hungary2015 Josef: Antwerp, Belgium1939 Isabel: Off the Coast of Florida1994 Mahmoud: Hungary2015 Josef: Vornay, France1940 Isabel: Miami Beach, Florida1994 Mahmoud: Hungary to Germany2015 Isabel: Miami, Florida1994 Mahmoud: Berlin, Germany2015 Maps Authors Note Acknowledgments About the Author Sneak Peek at Projekt 1065 Sneak Peek at Grenade Also by Alan Gratz Copyright It was night, and a waning moon peeked out from behind scattered clouds. The soldiers direct them to a route that avoids the battles in return for a ride. Refine any search. No sirens rang. There! Their current victim kept batting at his nose like there was a fly on it. No, wait for me! Isabel yelled, spitting seawater. Ahmed and Nedhal werent his friends. Like Josef, Mahmoud is also forced to make a difficult choice that shows his maturity and the weight of his responsibility. One of the men stopped at the drivers-side window and pointed his rifle at Mahmouds father. Our father is waiting for us in Cuba, Renata told them. They get to Cuba first and unload their passengers, and who knows? Two of the policemen had broken from the group and were running toward the water. Mahmouds head was hot and wet. Barrel bombs were filled with nails and scrap metal, and if you didnt have a wall to duck behind youd be shredded to pieces. And why not? He sobbed with the effort of fighting off the mans fingers and hanging onto the dinghy. Enough to arrest her family for trying to leave Cuba. Or Lzaro? Those are all boy names! Isabel said. Last updated by Cat 2 years ago 4/4/2021 7:38 PM. Please! Mahmoud cried. Be free, Papi said finally. The way the content is organized. Youll just be our little secret, Isabel whispered. Meant to lure us out. Im sorry. The ships bulletin board announced that the first-class social hall would be converted to a synagogue, a Jewish house of prayer, which meant Josef might have his bar mitzvah after all. Seor Castillo shrugged. He is of average height with brown hair and brown eyes. Please, Isabel begged. Were not going anywhere soon. I can fix that! Isabel said. LitCharts Teacher Editions. We will not stand in their way. What did he just say? Mami asked. It's Playing out in His Novels (Published 2018)", "Refugee by Alan Gratz A Timely and Important Novel", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Refugee_(Gratz_novel)&oldid=1120635547, This page was last edited on 8 November 2022, at 01:30. Josef Landau, a Jewish boy, is 12 years old at the beginning of the book, living in Nazi Germany in 1938. Hana! his father cried. Waleeds eyes were alive, but empty. However, Mahmoud pulls Hana out of his mothers arms and someone takes her on board, saving her from drowning and the freezing water (many such travelers are unable to save themselves or their children. He couldnt breathe. Here they were, talking like two regular people, but Josef hadnt forgotten he was Jewish. With a battle cry that would have made Wolverine proud, Mahmoud had launched himself at Khalids attackers. Ivn was a year older than Isabel and lived next door. He wore a suit and tie in front of a Syrian flag, doves of peace and yellow shining light surrounding him. Seor Castillo was in charge of the boat. Mahmouds father kept their papers tucked into his pants under his shirt, along with all of their moneythe only other things they owned now besides two phones and two chargers. Mahmoud and Waleed turned down a different rubble-strewn alley than the day before and stopped dead. Instant PDF downloads. They couldnt afford their old place, not since the Nazis told Josefs father he wasnt allowed to practice law anymore because he was Jewish. Waleed didnt know it, but hed saved the day. Go back south, one of the soldiers told Mahmouds father. The first time, he and three other men had built a raft and tried to paddle their way to Florida, but a tropical storm turned them back. Theyll come for me. Everyone was quiet at that. The German train car didnt feel any different than the Jewish car. Some kids in Daraa, a city in southern Syria, were arrested and abused by the police for writing anti-Assad slogans on walls. You must leave your coat on and never go anywhere without it, do you understand? refugee_-_alan_gratz was published by Mrs. Wilson on 2020-03-22. Everywhere around them, people fled into the streets, covered in gray dust and blood. Its a trap. Isabel tossed an old ball cap on the ground, on the off chance that one of the tourists actually had a peso to spare. Josef watched as they dragged Papa away to the sounds of Mamas sobs and Ruths wails. As he watched them sleep, Josef wondered if anyone would really be able to tell they were Jews if they werent in a Jewish compartment, wearing armbands with the Star of David on them. Mahmoud grapples with this question of whether it is better to be invisible or visible over the course of the novel as his family travels from Syria to Germany. Josef and Ruth clung to each other, terrified and wet-faced with tears. This is what they do. Ivn plopped to the dusty ground beside Isabel. Soon enough, a steward balancing a large silver tray came down the hall from the other end and knocked on a door. But now the streets were full of people yelling, Down with Fidel! You cant go now! Lito told Papi. Being able to travel anywhere we want, anytime we want! said Amara. The path was crammed full of Syrians, all strolling along like they had nothing else to do and nowhere else to go. Mahmoud couldnt understand why his mother had bothered to save their backpacks until he saw that they were stuffed with clothes and diapers. Mami was very pregnantshe was due in a weeks timeso Isabel knelt down to find the iodine. My darlings! He kissed the tops of their heads again and again, then jumped back. He had done everything he could to avoid the Hitler Youth ever since, but now hed handed himself right over to oneand all because hed taken off his armband to walk around a train and buy a newspaper! But he knew better. Well buy new ones! Mahmoud told him. Struggling with distance learning? But, more than a teacher, I am a learner! Izzit a good mouser? Yes! Isabel said, though she was sure that even a mouse would give the scrawny thing trouble. So I have more things to sell! He laughed, and Josef smiled. Isabel dodged through the crowds, trying to stay away from where the police had formed a line. But arguably Josefs most difficult decision is the one he must make at the novels conclusion: when the Nazis offer Rachel the option of releasing just one of her children, Josef sacrifices himself to relieve Rachel of this burden and to keep Ruthie out of the extermination camps. There had been rationing and food coupon books back when Isabel was little. At least take my sister! Mahmoud begged. Mahmoud and his familyWaleed, his mother Fatima, and baby sister Hanaescape the building just in time and it collapses behind them. All the cows and pigs and sheep had been slaughtered and eaten. The second time, his boat had a motor, but hed been caught by the Cuban navy and had ended up in jail. Come stand guard for us! Renata cried. They ate and slept and read books like Jews. I promise. She was barefoot as usual and dressed in a tank top and shorts. He was afraid they were going to pull him inside, but instead they deposited him by the door. The MS St. Louis was a paradise. Ruth! Mama cried when she saw them. Until we can come back home. Its cold in Germany, Mahmoud said. In the seat beside him, Waleed sat up straight next to his open window, unmoving and unfazed. Freedom! It was like they were invisible. Mahmoud watched as these two boys attacked the boy with the bread, a boy he didnt even know. His home was totally destroyed. Smart. Where are you going? the soldier at the window asked. Josefs veins ran with ice. An incredibly important, heartrending, edge-of-the-seat read, bringing light to the plight of immigrants who search for safety and freedom. Pam Muoz Ryan, author of the New York Times bestseller and Newbery Honor Book Echo Full of struggle, heroism, and non-stop adventure. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, author of the New York Times bestseller and Newbery Honor Book The War That Saved My Life Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. For as long as he could remember, hed wanted this. Mahmoud and his family planned to stay as far away from Daesh as possible, but the radical fighters were coming farther and farther into Syria every day. Mahmoud, Waleed, Youssef, and Fatima reside at a Munich school for four weeks until a host family offers to let them share their house with them. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. LitCharts Teacher Editions. "Mahmoud Bishara was invisible, and that's exactly how he wanted it. man wouldnt be talking and laughing with him. He blinked, still dazed, and then he understood. Mahmouds dad looked sheepish. He and Mahmoud had known each other for years, and even though Mahmoud was Sunni and Khalid was Shia, that had never mattered to them. Refine any search. Hes going to have his bar mitzvah next Shabbos. A bar mitzvah was the ceremony at which a boy officially became a man under Jewish law. Isabel sipped from a bottle of soda. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In the book, Refugee, who is the author? the wall. I wish I was your favorite song, he told Amara, so I could be on your lips forever. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Hes just a boy. You werent allowed to say things like that in Cuba. Mahmoud grabs onto it, bringing Fatima and, the Coast Guard for them. They all had short black beards like Mahmouds father, and wore head scarves of different colors and patterns. Josef, Ruthie, Renata, and Evelyne had to swallow their snickers as the steward reached down with his free hand and tried and failed to open the door. The car skids to a stop, and Youssef, Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey 2015, 4 days from home. He has a mother, a father, a younger brother, and a baby sister. An irregular rhythm that lay over the top of the regular beat, like a heartbeat beneath the skin. Isabel had lanky limbs and legs and was eleven years old. No, my son is just twelve. His uncle had worn a tuxedo and his bride had worn a dress of sparkling jewels and a tiara, and they had been escorted by a dozen cars to a party where Mahmoud had eaten a piece of the delicious seven-tiered cake and danced with his mother to a real band. But the good people couldnt help you, either., Youre still alive, and so is your little sister, somewhere. It was the last straw for the police. Please! Mahmoud cried. Youssef, no! Mom cried. He howled louder than a fighter jet, and his parents didnt even tell him to hush. If you stood the ship on end, it would have been taller than any building in Berlin. The guards stand down, unable to stop Mahmoud without causing a fight. And why do you need gasoline so badly? To leave Cuba before my father is arrested. The fisherman wiped his lips on the back of his hand. Maybe we shouldnt talk about drowning, Papi said, clutching to the side of the boat as they chopped into a wave. Read More Get personalized recommendations. Bicycles swung around and pedaled back. Lights came on in houses nearby, and curtains ruffled as people looked out at the noise. Good and bad things happened either way. But Syrians knew protesting in the streets was dangerous. It was big and heavy to begin with, and they had packed it with the gas cans, plastic soda bottles filled with fresh water, condensed milk, cheese and bread, and medicine. The smuggler had just told them their boat wasnt leaving tonight. He realizes that even being observed is an invitation to danger, and therefore. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights, Refugee: GitHub export from English Wikipedia. What would once have been a happy occasion in the Landau home was now fraught with anxiety, thanks to his fathers paranoia. If Castro was letting anyone leave, her father would be gone before the sun rose the next day. And dont ever do that again, the Hitler Youth told Josef. They were supposed to be on holiday, seeing ancient ruins and beautiful Greek beaches, not stepping over filthy, praying refugees. Move. Isabel was listening for the clave underneath the music, the mysterious hidden beat inside When the refugees reach Austria, people greet them with cheers and throw them food, water, and supplies. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Germany? Mahmouds mother said. Dad waved their fears away. Ill see if I can find us a bus. Mahmoud and his mother and sister and brother walked the shopping street. Refugee (Alan Gratz) He spotted the piece of candy Josef had bought for Ruth and took it. For me, Josef said instead. Josef tiptoed down the corridor. Lito! Her grandfathers name was Mariano, but Isabel called him Lito, short for AbuelitoGrandpa. Mahmoud couldnt remember the last time hed seen his brother laugh, or cry, or show any emotion whatsoever. Mahmoud saw a cardboard box of used toys at one of the shops and knelt to dig in it while his They threw rocks and bottles. Lito shook his head. She grabbed her trumpet, gave it one long, sad look, and ran out the back door. Josef and his family hoped to one day make it to America, but you couldnt just sail into New York Harbor. A wife! Without the maps, theyd be lost. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. It doesnt matter, he said. Finally, the boat is actually there! Record what books your kids are reading. They had seen Frozen in a movie theaterback when they could get to the now-government-controlled side of the city that had theaters. She and Youssef had agreed she should cover up more than she usually did in Aleppo, in case they ran into stricter Muslims outside the city. It is also worth noting that despite Mahmouds young age, he has needed to take on a protective role for his brother Waleed because of the danger of the civil war going on. Mahmoud jumped when it fell, but Waleed stood still, like this kind of thing happened every day. Mahmoud: Lesbos, Greece, to Athens, Greece 2015, 12 days from home (3). Last updated by Jill W on 01 Sep 20:48 Answers: 1. Germany is a long way away. Isabel held her breath, and soon the fisherman came back with two enormous plastic jugs of gasoline. And we dont need a fugitive on board. Ivn looked at him funny, but only Isabel saw it. More importantly, we have our lives. Refugee (Alan Gratz) Read the first paragraph of Ch.22 . castle on hill. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Thus, Mahmoud recognizes the importance of being visible, and his story also raises visibility for the many Syrian refugees who continue to need aid in the present. Tomorrow, hed told Mahmouds father. Josef's journey. Bombed-out buildings were good too. There was open revolt against Syria's ruler, Bashar al-Assad, following the Arab Spring revolutions in Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen. Pak! But when the building the Bishara's live in is hit and destroyed by a missile attack, the family knows it is time to leave Syria with its violent civil war behind and . Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Name the three main characters' moms., Name the younger siblings of Mahmoud and Josef., Where does Josef's boat go at first? The smuggler had just told them their boat wasnt leaving tonight. Mahmoud watches as their own apartment building collapses. Waleed was ten years old and two grades below Mahmoud in school. Mahmoud pulled Waleed behind a burned-out car, his heart racing. Not that Waleed smiled much anymore. The Gestapo man looked up at them through the window in his door. But the only people who could afford to give her pesos were the tourists visitors from Canada or Europe or Mexico. Chabela! her grandfather shouted when he saw her. He put a hand to it and came away with blood. Josef felt his skin tingle. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. No boat today. Mahmoud: Aleppo, Syria 2015 (1). She trades her trumpet for gasoline in order to get the boat to start. Josef gave his mother a frightened glance that said, Whats wrong with Papa? The US has spent 7 trillion dollars (!) Isabel is deeply tied to her Cuban heritage, particularly through her music. Mahmouds father gives the man what he asked for and hurries the family away. Khalid was a Shia Muslim in a country of mostly Sunni Muslims. Turkish guards in light green camo gear with automatic weapons and white surgical masks over their faces walked up and down the line, staring at each of them in turn. Germany was somewhere up north, in the heart of Europe. Youssef is characterized as a caring father and husband, trying to shepherd his family to safety in Germany. Theres no service again. Can you tell us what made you decide to leave? Quickly! Seor Castillo called from the other side of the boat. When her father, Geraldo, is worried that the police are coming after him for protesting, Isabel rallies her own family and another family, the Castillos, to take a boat to Miami and escape the oppression of Cuba. But I have this. She held out the trumpet. Your hijab, Dad said. She wont take up any room!, I dont remember much about him, but I do remember he always wanted to be a grown-up. Lets go, the boy said, and he marched Josef back through the dining car. We didnt ask for civil war! Hadnt everyone on board already applied and paid for visas? A Syrian pop song blared from the radio, and young men and women danced and laughed alongside the taxi. But he knew if he and Waleed stayed in the car, they would end up like the dead soldier beside them. Wheres Papi? she asked him. Papi was going to run away again, and this time, whether he got caught with wet feet or dry Like this book? But then there his dad was, running down the street toward them, and Mahmoud felt like he could fly. Hana Bishara. It is revealed at the conclusion of the novel that Lito was Mariano Padron, the Cuban officer who rescued Josefs father, Aaron, when he jumped into the ocean decades before. The Brownshirt whod taken his father away on Kristallnacht had said, Well come for you soon enough, but Josef hadnt waited. Were against whoever is dropping the bombs too, the soldier at the window said. The United States only let in a certain number of Jews every year, so Josefs family planned to live in Cuba while they waited. And he wasnt the only one. Mahmoud and his family travel through Serbia and into Hungary, where they are detained at a refugee camp that is built like a prison. Grade: A. Entertainment Weekly Harrowing, timely. People Magazine Nothing short of brilliant. Kirkus Reviews, starred review Memorable and tightly plotted. Publishers Weekly, starred review She wont take up any room!, Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Falling Action 1: Mahmoud and his family are imprisoned, along with hundreds of other Syrian refugees, for trying to cross the Hungarian border, which does not accept migrants. Lights came on in houses nearby, and curtains ruffled as people looked out at the noise. He wore the same thing he did every time he was on television a green military jacket and flat round capand sat behind a row of microphones. At last! That voice, thought Josef. Ivn gave names to everythingthe stray dogs who wandered the town, his bicycle, even his baseball glove. Lots of them! No, Papi and Lito said at the same time. Thats what they wantedto get out of Syria using the fastest path possible. We didnt want to leave our homes! another man yelled. Yell if you see someone coming, Renata said breathlessly. Isabel saw the glass window of a general store shatter, and men and women climbed inside to steal shoes and toilet paper and bath soap. When another raft made out of an old refrigerator sank, everyone laughed. Isabels mother, almost nine months pregnant, was the only one not helping to carry the boat. (including. Theres no room. She stood on the wide promenade, where it seemed all of Havana was on display. The old taxis exhaust pipe made a sound like a gunshotPOK!and everybody ducked instinctively.