Chapters 36-40 Summary

Chapter 36 is called "Education." Hector and his men, including Mandras, are roasting the sheep they have stolen and talking around a campfire. Hector reads to the men from a book by Lenin, lecturing them on the principles of Marxist communism. Most of the men silently dismiss Hector. They serve under him because he has threatened to kill them if they do not. Some will abandon him that night, but Mandras will stay. He does not understand much of what Hector says, but wants to learn more.

Chapter 37 bears the long title "An Episode Confirming Pelagia's Belief that Men do not Know the Difference Between Bravery and a Lack of Common Sense." The episode referred to in the title is Pelagia's realization that her father and Carlo are the ones responsible for writing and distributing the anti-Mussolini pamphlet that has been circulating...