Summary

In chapter 12, the narrator works at the railyard alongside Herschel Schtamm, a devout Orthodox Jew who has had to hide his payos under a large hat. During this section the narrator also reveals that his wife had been executed by the Nazis. When he tries to tell Herschel about the Russian news from Jacob he uninterestedly dismisses it.

In chapter 13 the narrative returns to Jacob’s perspective, who is frustrated by the fact that so many members of the ghetto are trying to pester him for more information. In this chapter it is also definitively revealed that Jacob does not have a radio and has been making up new information trying to keep everyone satisfied and unworried. Kowalski, who Jacob describes as the most eager seeker of information, approaches him. They end up getting into an argument about Jacob being hesitant to share information...