the life we bury

In Chapter 12, October flies by, and Joe visits Carl twice, submitting his first chapter. On November 1, he visits again and wonders what turned Carl into a monster. He learns about Carl's traditional upbringing and his service in Vietnam. Carl admits to being attacked in prison because of his crimes, but he did not request segregation because he felt he did not deserve to live; however, after an Aryan brother tried to slit his throat, he was forced into solitude for most of his thirty years imprisonment. Joe asks if Carl met Virgil in prison, but tired, Carl says that is a story for another day. Janet warns that Carl will be out of it tomorrow since he did not take his medicine so he would be clear-headed for their conversation. Joe decides it is time to talk to Virgil, the only person who believes Carl is innocent.