Summary

Xavier's first person narration resumes in this chapter as he realizes Niska's story has just solved a mystery. Xavier would laugh if that letter had not damaged him as much as it did. He wonders if he should tell her but instead he decides to slip back into the year when he received the letter.

The battalion has been moved to Passchendaele and it is the most depressing place Xavier has ever seen. It constantly rains and there is not a tree or bush in sight. The trenches are shallow, water-filled craters and the Germans have the high ground. The Germans were smart and built pillboxes instead of trenches and it gives them an advantage. The Canadian artillery is useless as it keeps sinking into the mud every time it fires a shell and has to be re-calibrated. Xavier has reached a point...