Summary

In chapter 24, Viktor and his family return to their home in Moscow. While Lyudmila is busy unpacking, Viktor reminisces how he spent an afternoon before the war with a “pretty young Nina” drinking a bottle of wine, which is still sitting beside the sink. He worries that other remnants of this afternoon are still about the house. Viktor then calls a number of people on the phone as he is desperate for somebody to talk to. Everybody that he calls is unavailable to talk. Later in the night, Viktor awakens to find Lyudmila in Tolya’s old room talking to her deceased son.

Chapter 25 describes a meeting of the University staff at the Academy of Sciences. As they congregate Viktor tries to feel out who among them has read his new work. In one conversation, Viktor enthusiastically compares the Russian army...