Summary

Xavier's narration continues as the two armies winter in Lens. The Americans have now joined in the war and their addition has been welcomed by the Allies even though Xavier has not seen many of them. He and Elijah are kept sharp by being sent out on patrols. At night they crawl through no man's land and listen to the Germans. Most nights they do not find anything. One night, instead of Xavier telling Elijah they must head back as dawn approaches, it is the other way around. As they crawl back to their own line, they see two German soldiers crawling back to their own trenches. Elijah calls out to them and they answer, saying they will be waiting for them tomorrow.

The battalion is given a few days' rest and whenever the rain stops, the troop gather by the cook...