Snow Falling on Cedars Chapter 11

Kabuo sits in his cell, remembering his life as a soldier. He remembers killing a very young German boy. He remembers when he first met Nels, and the old lawyer invited him to play chess, even as he talked about the possibility of the death penalty. He liked Nels, and could tell that the lawyer would help him. He remembers his father teaching him kendo, and knows that he is so skilled at it because he is able to be ruthless. He learned about that side of himself in the war.