Chapter 2: The Sword Is Blind Summary

Chapter two follows the story of Erchov. Erchov is the High Commissar for Security and Commissar of the People for Internal Affairs. He has risen quickly through the ranks, and now that he is in this important position, he is completely terrified. All of his predecessors have either vanished or been arrested or executed.

Erchov realizes very quickly that he has been given an impossible job. Thousands of dossiers filled with evidence on crimes pile up on his desk, many of which demand capital punishment. When the case of Comrade Tulayev comes to his attention, Erchov is pressured—by the Chief himself—to uncover a terrorist plot behind the murder. Erchov feels increasingly panicked and sick to his stomach because there is no real evidence of a plot and he believes an individual...