Chapter 13 Summary

Elsa has not written back to Dieter. She is still undecided about what to do. As she walks outside, imagining a life with him, she runs into Vonni coming out of a house. Inside is a young pregnant woman—a widow from the recent tragedy—who wants to end the pregnancy, against Vonni's advice. Elsa is surprised; she and her friends always listen to her. David, she tells Vonni, is unsettled and plans to call home today. Vonni invites her into a little building, where she tends to an old man who shuns modern medicine. When they start back down the road they argue about Dieter, and each is unswerving—Elsa declares she will go back, while Vonni thinks this is a bad idea. They exchange heated words, and the walk ends in awkward silence.

When Thomas calls Bill, he is rude to...