Chapter 5 Summary

It's the heart of winter and the days are long and dark. Snow is everywhere. The soldiers feel isolated, are lonely, miss home and talking to people. They encounter the people in town who pass them by with sullen looks and no words. It is a slow process getting the coal from the mines. The workers are slow, purposely, and there are many accidents and equipment failures from obvious or suspected sabotage. Withholding food from mine workers doesn't work—they have to be strong to work in the mines. The conquerors feel surrounded and hated and cannot venture out alone. . .dead bodies of fellow soldiers are found in the frozen snow.

The soldiers read news from home and everything seems to be wonderful there. Their armies have conquered all the other areas and are being met with flowers and smiles. But the...