Scenes 9-10 Summary

It is now Fall 1634, but a harsh winter has come early. It is the 17th year of the "great war of faith," and half of Germany's people have died. Those not killed directly by the war have died from terrible epidemics. People are more prone to these epidemics, because they are hungry and exhausted.

Mother Courage and the cook take her cart through a burnt-out town, singing for food. Suddenly, the cook announces that he's received a letter. His mother died and left him an inn. He wants Courage to go with him and make a life there. The only problem is that there is no space for Kattrin. Courage would like to go with him, but refuses to leave Kattrin behind, so the cook must go home alone.

In 1635, Mother Courage and Kattrin pull their cart past a peasant's house...