Summary

Part 1, Section 1 tells the story of Benita and Martin Flederrmann, and their arrival at Burg Lingenfels after the war. Chapter One starts again at Burg Lingenfels, but skips ahead seven years from the prologue to June 1945 and changes to Benita’s perspective. Benita is exhausted and riding in the back of a cart after a long trip, with Marianne, her son Fritz, and Benita’s son Martin.

After a nap, Benita wakes and walks downstairs to where Marianne is preparing a meal. Benita watches the children play, though panics when Martin is out of sight or potentially harmed. Benita thinks about how different her life has become - once born a peasant and now eating with a countess in a castle. Marianne gives her boots that are extremely fine, but Benita cannot put them on. She feels as though the boots are taunting...