Chapter 6, Part 4 Summary

Yakov starts begging now for something to do. His fixer hands are idle and this makes him the most uneasy, he thinks. He starts conversing with Zhitnyak, the guard who is on his side. Through these conversations, Yakov learns the Deputy Warden thought to poison Yakov to draw out a confession. The warden discovered the plot and was furious. Zhitnyak brings Yakov a broom.

Yakov now spends the majority of his time sweeping his cell thoroughly. He still goes to the kitchen twice a day for his food, even though the warden personally assured Yakov of his safety. The warden is just as eager as the rest of the officials to try Yakov and convict him and needs him alive until that can happen. The payoff for the kitchen trips is three cavity searches per day.

During the year of prison...