Summary

In Chapter 5, Julien sends Isabelle out of Paris with the Humberts. Isabelle leaves reluctantly. There are crowds of people leaving the city and the streets are clogged with slow moving traffic. Isabelle feels disposable.

The car runs out of gas and Isabelle is separated from the Humberts in the crowd. When she smells smoke and roasting meat she walks toward it. She meets a young man named Gaetan who invites Isabelle to sit with him and assures her he won't hurt her. When Isabelle introduces herself he notes that her surname means "nightingale."

Isabelle asks Gaetan why he isn't staying in Paris to fight. He tells her he was in prison until the doors were opened to release the prisoners when the Germans invaded. Gaetan says he is going to check on his mother and sister and then find a regiment to join...