Chapter Twelve Summary

Cincinnatus is awoken by scratching noises. He lies in bed, listening to the sounds. Then, he sits up, tensing, and trying to locate the sounds. Cincinnatus accidentally bumps into a tray, making a noise, and the scratching sounds stop. After a while, they start up again. Cincinnatus goes back toward the cot to get his slippers, but he bumps into the chair, making another noise. The sounds stop again. It's almost morning, and the sounds don't recur.

That day, there's a thunderstorm. Rodrig Ivanovich comes in to tell Cincinnatus that he's mother has come to see him. Does Cincinnatus want to see her? Cincinnatus, who barely knows his mother, declines. The director assents, goes out, and leads Cecilia C. in to meet with her son. Cecilia comments on the horrible weather and says the cell is quiet and clean. She straightens...