1943 - 8 and 9 Summary

A monk arrives and leaves a message for Carlo Vivaldi; the lodgers speculate on who Carlo really is. When he learns of it, Carlo walks the streets for hours and, perhaps, beats his fists on the walls in the night. Secondo brings optimistic news, and says Nino and Quatro are fine and successful. Carlo decides to go with Guiseppe Secondo. When Rosella kills Secondo's two canaries, Ida tells Useppe they have flown away.

Nino arrives to take Useppe in Remo's truck. They stop to visit Nino's girlfriend, Maria, whom Nino intends to marry when the war ends. They walk to a mud hut where Moscow and two others discuss the night's triumphs. Useppe learns about mules and sees the ocean for the first time. Nino spots German soldiers through his binoculars and worried for the overdue Quatro, leaves Useppe behind. Useppe...