Chapter 8, Never Again, Part 1 Summary

Drancy is a holding point, a way station for the innocents to be stored until their time for slaughter. Ernie is named Gribouille, meaning simpleton, since he voluntarily enters the camp. He finds Golda, who has lost her spark. He asks her for a forbidden desire and if she is hungry. He runs back to his dormitory and begs a piece of candy from the men. One man produces a couple pieces of moldy sugar. When Ernie returns to Golda she has been transformed by the women. She is told of Gribouille and says that she did not know that he and Ernie were the same person. When she asks Ernie if he really tried to get into the camp because of her, he denies it, he does not want her to bear that burden.

The camp...