Chapters 7 through 12 Summary

In chapter seven, January arrives and brings snow. Wili becomes sick with a terrible aching in his gut. He is constantly hungry and constantly eating, but continues to lose weight. He does not complain to the others about his illness, having endured the worsening with the arrival of winter for his entire life. However, Irma eventually sees the signs of his suffering and tells Paul. She then pulls on one of Wili's fingernails and it detaches easily, falling off completely. Wili is horrified at the sight. Though he has endured the pain, the fact that his body is literally falling apart is the stuff of nightmares. Paul is horrified too and Wili finds himself in the position of comforter, assuring Paul that the illness always worsens in the winter and improves in the summer.

Though there is the illness to contend...