C h a p t e r 13 H e l l o Casablanca Seven months later, Rick and Ilsa stepped onto another airplane.
This one was going to Casablanca. The reservations were in the
names of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Blaine. Sam Waters was with
them.
"Are you sure you want to, Sam?" Rick asked him.
"How many times are you going to ask me, Rick? Of course,
I'm coming with you."
Although Ricks arm was better, he still walked with difficulty.
His dancing days had ended, but he had married Ilsa, in the
presence of Sam and Major Miles.
It was nearly the end for the Germans in North Africa. Three
days after Casablanca had become safe, Rick said to Ilsa, "Are you
thinking what I'm thinking?"
She was.
67
"Rick! Sam! Look!"
When the airplane started to circle Casablanca, Ilsa looked
out. "Rick! Sam! Look!"
They looked. The sign was still there: R I C K ' S CAFÉ
A M E R I C A I N .
They went there immediately. It wasn't far. The place was
closed, but the door was open. Sam's piano was in the corner,
dusty but unharmed.
"Sam, play us some of the old songs," said Ilsa.
"You know what she means, Sam," said Rick, as Ilsa smiled
that beautiful smile. "You still remember it, don't you? Play 'As
Time Goes By.'"
He played it.
Now, at last, it was a story with an ending.
Ilsa threw her arms around Rick's neck and kissed him until
she couldn't breathe.
ACTIVITIES Chapters 1-3 Before you read 1 Have you seen the movie Casablanca? Talk about the main
characters. Who are they? What do you know about them? If you
have not seen the movie, read the Introduction to this book.
