Summary

Section 7 of Chapter 2 is titled “Thursday. Forenoon Watch: 0800 – 1200.” As the hunt for the U-boat continues, Krause has an opportunity to make a brief joke with the commander of the Viktor, but the joke falls flat. Meanwhile, the two destroyers continue their hunt for the U-boat, even as Krause’s need to use the head (i.e., toilet) becomes increasingly, painfully desperate. He is aware that he is also becoming increasingly fatigued, and forces himself to pay attention. As the destroyers continue their attempt to pin down the U-boat, Krause starts to wonder whether it is time to give up the hunt, trying to remember how long it has actually been since the pursuit of the U-boat began and considering how other hunts had been called off after less time. He imagines the higher part of himself that is connected to and motivated...