Chapter Fifteen Summary

Peekay is working hard to convince his mother to let him be a part of the new letter writing service. She is not sure about the proceedings, believing that the Lord's work cannot be concerned with adding to the comfort of criminals. Most arguments fail, until Granpa suggest that through the letter writing, there is also a chance to redeem the prisoners through tracts. She accepts this idea readily, and several tracts in different languages are printed each time Peekay goes to the prison to write letters. Unbeknownst to the faithful, most of the tracts are also used to conceal leaves of tobacco.

The success of the program means that von Zyl is promoted to the rank of full colonel. Lieutenant Borman has also begun to develop piles, which some of the warders, such as Gert, feel is the retribution of...