Summary

Jim is sent to a makeshift detention center at the open-air movie theater. He is there with approximately thirty other people in varying degrees of sickness. Those who die are replaced with new prisoners. Everyone avoids him; the cooks call him “disgusting” and a “dirty boy” to keep him away from their children. One day at roll call, a new group of prisoners arrives and Jim hopes, in exchange, he’ll be taken to a camp where he’ll find his parents. He knows only healthy people are taken to the camps and the dying ones stay behind, so he tries his best to look healthy. He is not picked this time. As he inspects the new groups of detainees, he recognizes Basie. Jim takes it upon himself to care for Basie and nurse him back to health. Basie soon starts giving Jim orders ¬– like...