Summary

In early 1998, Matti Friedman and his platoon arrive at the Pumpkin. His platoon leader is named Harei, and Harei is the only member of his own original platoon to have survived the helicopter crash. He was not on the helicopter that day because he was away training to become an officer. When asked in an interview how he returned to the army after such a tragedy, Harei replied: "On the bus" (112). After arriving at the Pumpkin with Harei, Matti begins his first assignment but what he originally thinks are guerrilla fighters turn out to be civilian hunters. He then gets a tour of the Pumpkin so that he can begin taking his turn at the guard posts. Though he had anticipated "action," not much happened after Matti's arrival at the outpost. Instead, he familiarizes himself with his new surroundings, including the...