Chapters 21 through 23 Summary

Chapter twenty-one, "The Nature of the Spirit," begins with the statement that "the killing went on for four hours" and that it was "thorough and systematic." At one point, PFC Richard Thinbill tells John that he'd thought there were to be no civilians in the village and says that he assumes that they were Communists. John agrees. The scene then reverts to the night of the election. John makes his concession speech fairly early in the evening with Tony and Kathy at his side. He and Kath to their hotel room where they undress and go to bed but get back up an hour later and order a late supper. Tony comes into their room and tells John that he has taken another job. When John asks if he could not have waited, Tony says that he could have, but that...