Section 5: France 1916, Part 2, pages 117-133 Summary

As Jack Firebrace digs the tunnel underground, Evans summons him because Turner heard something that sounded like digging twenty yards back. Captain Weir sends a message to the surface to turn off the air-feed so Jack can listen, but they return to work when he determines it is only shellfire. When an explosion throws earth and rock into four men, killing them, Weird orders the men to get out now. On the surface, Jack receives a letter from his wife, Margaret, in Edmonton, telling him that John, his 8 year old son, is in the hospital with a fever. Jack tries to recall his son, but he is usually too busy on the front to "allow his mind to dwell on inessentials" (page 123). When Jack falls asleep on sentry duty, Weir orders him to appear at...