Prisoner B-3087

As prisoners die in the train car beside Yanek, he admits that he “almost couldn’t care anymore” (212) about the loss of life because it has become too common and overwhelming. Bombs fall all around the train, and when Yanek survives yet again, he has a renewed determination to live.

He follows Uncle Moshe’s advice and keeps to himself. One day a guard sentences him to 20 lashes for missing button on his uniform. After the beating he is thrown into his barrack. He can’t move due to the pain, but he recommits to living through this experience.

This death march is littered with dead bodies, and Yanek wonders how people on the outside are OK with all this death. How “could they not see what was happening?” (223). They walk through German-controlled Czechoslovakia, and it’s clear that the Czech people hate “their Nazi overlords” (224). They leave food on their windowsills to feed the passing prisoners.

Moonface is now marching alongside the prisoners and scores the Czech donated bread. Yanek is so desperate to eat that when they stop for the evening he asks Moonface is he can have some of his bread. Moonface initially holds his knife close enough to Yanek’s throat to draw blood, but he soon puts his knife away and gives Yanek some of his bread.