This chapter opens with a conversation between a Lieutenant and his mother. The Lieutenant tells his mother that he's planning to become a soldier, but she doesn't seem to want to hear it. She complains about the lack of access to food, water, and medical care in her village. She also complains about her son's lack of interest in the war effort. The lieutenant tells her that he was asked to collapse a tunnel during the war, but instead of dying of wounds, the tunnel workers died of starvation, disease, and lack of sleep. He says he can't believe that his son would trust him to do such a thing. He also says that the tunnel was a battlefield five years ago, during which time the area was suffering from famine and disease. The tunnel workers were asked to help rebuild the tunnel, but they died instead of being wounded. He blames himself for not trusting his son more, and says he'll auction off his estate if he has to. He asks his mother why she didn't stop him from doing this, and she tells him that it's his job and obligation. She tells him to hurry up and shut the engine, because they're all going to get back to work soon. She says they'll cure the empire.