Summary

Xavier's first person narration continues in this chapter and it begins with Niska and Xavier paddling down the river. There is new growth along the shoreline and the blackened trees look like the dead trees of Ypres to Xavier. He says out loud to Niska that maybe Elijah is still overseas and that the Army has kept him there longer. Niska then asks where did he last see Elijah. Xavier answers by telling Niska that they are near the place where the fire caught up to him and Elijah when they were heading to join the war effort. Xavier wants to be able to tell Niska the story but he cannot find the energy to do it.

Xavier's first person narration then takes readers back to the war where Sean Patrick and Grey Eyes were working a sniping post. Sean Patrick was sniping...