Section 8 Summary

This section begins with the phrase, "The army finally dropped me..."

The army dismisses Bardamu and he buys himself a ticket to Africa on a steamboat. In Africa, it is said that anyone can make a fortune and Bardamu fantasizes about trading his razor blades for a houseful of slaves and colorful birds. When the ship heads south, the passengers are overwhelmed by relentless, stifling heat. Just like in the war, the miserable conditions bring out people's true natures. The heat makes their "rottenness rise to the surface." The stagnant filth sets in and frantic unbuttoning begins.

Bardamu is the only passenger who paid his own fare, the rest are on diplomatic or business missions. They regard him with unending suspicion and treat him like a criminal. Bardamu takes it in stride, reflecting that the "number of people who must want you dead...