Summary

In Chapter 44, the teenage Herman decided that he and Landzaat would walk out towards Zwin, after which Herman would do something to scare Landzaat away from Laura. He knew that Landzaat wasn’t going to give up after term started, and figured that they needed something to “remove him from our lives forever” (368). Landzaat asked what kind of films Herman made with his camera. Herman answered that he mostly filmed teachers. He had recently edited his films of the now-dead teachers and was planning on labeling it “Life Before Death II” (370). Landzaat patronized Herman about his filmings, saying that some of the teachers had gotten “really upset” over Herman’s antics (370).

Herman decided that he would attempt to provoke Landzaat into attacking him and film it. He jibed at Landzaat about his affairs with students and fake personality, and planned to finish off...