Summary

Section 7. Bam listens to the radio for any news suggesting the fighting has ceased. Bam and Maureen discuss whether they will return. Maureen fails to mention the vehicle, and July asks to enter their hut and provides them with supplies, including batteries for their radio. They offer to pay him. They question him and pretend they were worried about him and not about being trapped in the village without a means of escape. He explains he took the vehicle to the store. They ask July if he has heard anything about the fighting. He says there is trouble at the mine not far away from them.

Section 8. They let the moment pass to ask him for the keys. The next day, July begins driving lessons with a friend as the Smales observe from their hut. During the rainy period, they keep a fire going in...