In this chapter, we learn that Dr. Pelius is still holding a hostage in the center of town. He's planning to shoot the hostage from the roof of the tower, but he can't because he's got a gun. He begs the crowd to help him escape, but they're all too afraid to do so. They're afraid that the hostage will die if they don't help him out. They also fear that many of the people in the shelter are sick, and that they won't be able to fight back if they try to help the hostage. Dr. pelius tells the crowd that he and the other doctors are trapped in the underground, and they need to find a way to help them escape. He also tells them that water polluted with radioactive material is flooding into the shelter, and it's impossible to stop it. They need to move the people out of the shelter.