How does the Silver Sword carried by Jan show hope?

The silver sword is a symbol of a number of things in the novel. Primarily, it is a symbol of hope: hope that Joseph will find his children again and that they are alive; and, to the children, it is a symbol of their father being alive, and of the hope that they will one day be reunited. It is also a symbol of Jan's role in the Balicki family; to Jan, it is a sort of talisman that keeps them all safe. He views it as a symbol of security, and of their ability to make their journey to Switzerland as a group without losing anyone on the way. The sword also symbolizes justice, rightness, peace through struggle, and protection. The children’s quest is a noble one and a just one, and the sword functions symbolically to bring them to their ultimate goal of reunion.