Summary

In chapter twenty-five, Josef tells Becca and Magda that the story of the war is the story of survivors rather than a story of heroes. He enters into a relationship with a man named Alan who is a Jew. One day they travel to a place where there are signs posted prohibiting Jews. Josef reassures Alan that no one will know he's a Jew but he isn't reassured. They spend a single night in the town and Alan soon leaves Josef, who learns later that Alan had been killed in a border dispute. Josef's next lover is a man who laughs at Hitler but slashes his wrists the following morning. Josef notes that there is no suicide note but that the blood is clear.

Josef is aware of the beatings, the persecution of the Jews and the atrocities but continues to ignore them. He says...