Chapters 23-24 Summary

Continual bombardments bring an exodus from town to the Mejdan, recalling the Great Flood, but with no ethnic mixing, sense of shared disaster, or witty stories to lighten the refugees' hearts. To remain alive they must act as though they are dead. Muslim houses are a bit more lively, resenting that all the shells flying overhead are Christian. Alihodja's house under the fortress is turned into a Muslim religious school for his children and those of Mujaga Mutapdžić, who in his 50 years has been a refugee three times. With help from local relatives, Mujaga within two years builds a small business, but the new fighting has left him wondering how God could leave true believers only one way out: death, fighting in schutzkorps. Alihodja likes and admires Mujaga and tries to console him. A fierce exchange of gunfire forces them...