Chapter I Summary

A magistrate in charge of administering the law in a colonial town witnesses the torture of the invaded indigenous population. The colony or place is unspecified. Most characters have no names, although the circumstances surrounding the events indicate that the colony is South Africa while the barbarians indicate the black population. The magistrate is of unspecified age although he refers to himself as approaching retirement. At first loyal and dutiful the magistrate becomes skeptical about the legal system he represents. He questions its effectiveness, but if he were to leave his successor could be more ruthless.

The magistrate shows the garrison to Colonell Joll, sent by The Third Bureau to investigate the rumors about a barbarian uprising. When they begin to talk about interrogation methods, Joll shares his views with him about the way he obtains the truth from the prisoners...