Chapters 7 and 8 Summary

August awakes the next morning thinking that his meeting with No. 44 had been just a dream, but an encounter with No. 44 soon after verifies the reality of the night before. No. 44 asks August to come again and urges him not to make their friendship public so that August does not suffer for it. August admits that he wishes he had more spirit, but No. 44 tells him not to feel bad for August did not create himself and is not to blame.

After breakfast that morning, Heinrich promotes No. 44 to the position of apprentice, an act which infuriates the rest of the tribe because of No. 44's evident lack of training. Heinrich then asks No. 44 whether he has studied any of the ancient languages or sciences, topics of great importance to those in the printing arts. No. 44 can reply only that he...