Sections 25 through 32 Summary and Analysis

A Coward and A Weakling

It is not long after he joins the Artists' League that Akira realizes it is a front for a Communist organization. Akira remains silent and reluctantly goes along with some of their operations—he is arrested once and spends a night in jail. He somewhat enjoys the excitement and intrigue of being part of an illegal organization, but he does not want to disgrace his father by being sent to prison. Akira never becomes a Communist himself although he does become the assistant editor of the League's newspaper. Being an operative for the League does not provide a lucrative income and Akira spends many days with nothing to eat. After a severe illness, Akira loses contact with the organization and seeks out his brother who is working as a silent film narrator for...