Chapters 10, 11 and 12 Summary

This section marks the first of a series of chapters chronicling life in Thies during the strike.

"Thies - Sounkare, the Watchman" Narration describes how Sounkare reflects on how foolish the strikers now seem to be, and on the short-lived circumstances in which he and the other strikers live. He attempts to kill a couple of rats for food, but they evade him. He goes in search of food, first stopping at Dieynaba's home (where the blind Maimouna continues to sing). Dieynaba politely but firmly tells him there is not enough food. He then goes to the office of the strike committee (reflecting on his hard, unhappy life) where there too he is rejected. As he's leaving, he goes through the motor repair shop, where the large trains await servicing. There he again sees the two rats, is overcome by dizziness...