Chapters 13 and 14 Summary

Thies - The Apprentices" Narration describes how the young apprentices (including Magatte and Gorgui) at first treated the strike as a holiday, but then became bored. They decide, one day, that they should have slingshots, and steal some inner-tubes for bicycle tires. They make their slingshots, practicing their marksmanship on wild birds. A chance comment by his mother Dieynaba inspires Gorgui to suggest that the "crew" of apprentices should use the slingshots to steal some chickens, which they do, their success then inspiring Penda to lead them on a successful raid on a supply store for rice. As the crew becomes more and more confident and more daring, they begin using the windows and streetlights of the French whites as targets. One day, however, as the crew is targeting some small lizards, Isnard suddenly appears, draws a gun and fires, killing...