Nearly Four O'clock Summary

As Thomas is writing his first letter home in a while, someone cries out that gas is coming. Thomas frantically puts his gas mask on, and heads out onto the firestep. He has never seen gas before now, and the sight of it snaking its way in tendrils toward him causes him to break. He falls and his mask comes off some, allowing a little of the gas in. Thomas breaks and runs from the gas. He ends up in a trench with his gas mask off, retching. He looks up to see a German soldier with a rifle aimed at his head. Thomas has no gun, and is sure that today will be his death. Instead, the German tells him to run. Thomas doesn't know why this German decided to spare him, but he makes good use of...