The chapter opens with a description of a soldier's "life and activity" . The soldier tells us that he's been "running around and barking" at everything he can think of. He's also been looking at the enemy's movements on his way to the front. He can't figure out exactly what's going on, but he does know that there's a "whole division" of enemy troops on the move. He says that he hasn't given up on his mission, and that this will be "the golden opportunity" of his life. He tells the soldier to "get some rest" , and the soldier says he'll let him clean up. He asks the soldier if she's too young for him, and she says she is, and he says she looks ridiculous. She asks him if he wants her to be his "sex partner," and he responds that he doesn't care if the soldier is trying to stay "refined" in the "heat of battle." He says, "overthinking things" just leads to "regret later." The soldier apologizes, and says that if this turns out to be a "scar," it's his fault. He promises to be waiting for him.