Summary

Chapter 8: Rubashov is pacing his cell, contemplating his situation, when he hears faint tapping. Rubashov realizes the man in the cell next to his, No. 402, is trying to communicate. Rubashov attempts to see if the man knows the quadratic tapping system and taps out his name. The man does not respond immediately, but he does eventually. The man refuses to tell Rubashov who he is. They talk for a time about Rubashov’s last sexual experience, but Rubashov becomes bored and stops responding.

Chapter 9: Rubashov begins to think about the past, of a German town where he once worked. It is 1933 and Rubashov has been sent to Germany to work with the Communists there. Rubashov recalls a man named Richard. Richard told Rubashov that he did not have a list of the people in his community who were loyal to...