The narrator tells us that Shmoop is the 12th commanding officer of the Shiganshina survey corps, which is the military branch of the Russian government that conducts surveys of the population in the country's major cities and towns. The narrator says that Shmiller was the last commanding officer he saw five years ago, and Shmoltz is now the new commanding officer, which means that Shmira is now in charge of the entire Shmorg district. Shmira says that she wants to avenge her mother, who has been executed for her part in the conspiracy against the government. She asks Shmira to go to her mother's place and tell her that she can do the same for Shmira. She says that if Shmira does not turn the child into a great man, then Shmira will not be able to do anything for him.