Chapter 6, Part 2 Summary

The warden moves Yakov to a cell closer to his office. Yakov begs for a cellmate or a pet to keep him company. The warden scoffs at this idea, and Yakov is alone again, only this time in a bigger, colder cell. Winter is nearing again. Yakov's asthma acts up again in the cold weather. He sleeps on a lumpy, moldy mattress and has only a thin blanket to fight the cold. His cell is dingy and filthy like the rest of the prison. Yakov now hopes for indictment rather than freedom, feeling that official paperwork will at least relieve his present conditions.

Yakov spends most of his time spying on the guards outside his cell. He listens to them talk about their families and he begs them for firewood or candles or other comforts. One day, the Deputy Warden comes...