Summary

In Chapter 27, Akhmed is at home when the Federal soldiers arrive. Khassan watches from his home, unable to stop what's happening but hating himself for allowing it. He feels a lack of pride and honor, knowing that Akhmed is on his way to die. He takes a knife and plans to kill Ramzan.

He sits beside Ramzan, who is in a deep, drugged sleep. Khassan talks about a man who had felt honor-bound to kill his son. The village shunned the man until he killed his son but then welcomed him back into their society. The man, however, couldn't live with the horror of what he'd done. Khassan knows that Ramzan will sleep most of the day and decides to put off the murder for awhile longer.

He hears a knock and finds Sonja at the door. They talk for only a moment...