Chapter Four Summary

The body of Lukas Carle is found hanging from a tree outside of town by the postman. Frau Carle and Rolf identify the body. Frau Carle has to hide her face to prevent the doctor from seeing her smile. Though the doctor tells the woman that it seems her husband has committed suicide, she informs Rolf that his schoolmates have killed Lukas. Rolf is stunned when his mother tells him that they should be grateful, as it means they will not have to kill the man themselves.

Rolf falls into a depression, unable to reconcile the death of his father with the fact that he wishes he had the personal resolve to have killed Lukas himself. When the five students that had killed Lukas begin wearing a patch on their uniforms in order to remember the event, Rolf becomes despondent, unable...