1943 - 6 and 7 Summary

Nino appears with a follower named Quattropunte, named for his skill with four-sided nails. Grief stricken over losing Blitz, he assumes his posture as rebel soldier and demands food, making sure everyone knows he and his friend have killed Germans. Ida briefly wonders if Nino has killed Useppe's father, not knowing he died three years ago. Nino tells the sympathetic Secondo that he has switched sides, and now dreams of revolutionizing the world. Nino is now Ace of Hearts.

Nino confronts Carlo, who claims to be an anarchist. They all agree that they are anti-Fascist. Carlo admits he was not a soldier, but a political prisoner who escaped from a sealed train heading east, arrested for distributing political propaganda. He spent three days in a bunker in Northern Italy, listening to executions, and describes how the mind tries to stay busy...