Summary

Another leap forward in time finds Bartle in Germany on his way home after completing his tour of duty in Iraq. He’s left the base without a pass and is wandering around Kaiserlautern, hoping not to run into anyone else from his platoon – especially Sterling.

Instead of going to any of the local bars, Bartle ducks into a cathedral where he watches an after-school tour. The guide is speaking German. Bartle can’t understand the words, so he reads a pamphlet that outlines the cathedral’s history and discusses the saints featured in the church.

After a while, the priest, Father Bernard, approaches Bartle to tell him not to smoke in the building. The priest thinks Bartle looks troubled and asks if he needs to talk. Bartle declines and leaves and the priest asks if Bartle wants the priest to pray for him...