Chapter 16, Faith, Hope, Love Summary

Meyn, the drunken trumpet player, has become a sober member of the Nazi Mounted SA band. Sobriety has greatly impaired his talent, but Meyn gets drunk for Herbert's funeral and plays beautifully. After the funeral, Meyn goes home and continues to drink in his lonely room in the apartment house. Later, in a drunken temper, Meyn bludgeons one of the neighbor's cats to death. He stuffs the carcass into a trash can, where the owner discovers it and reports Meyn to the SPCA. The neighbor also informs the local party office of the disgraceful conduct. The case goes to trial and Meyn is fined. He is expelled from the SA for conduct unbecoming a storm trooper, despite his record of bravery from setting fire to a synagogue and destroying several shops during Krystal Nacht. Meyn was not...