- We're now at the beginning of Book 2.
- Three weeks go by since Vahan arrived at his home, and still no sight of Selim Bey. No complaints here, though—Vahan doesn't even know how he's supposed to treat someone who is killing Armenians left and right.
- In the mornings Vahan is given yogurt and bread for breakfast before he grooms the horses, and then at night, he's given stew and bread. Sometimes the bread comes with a side of dirt since the guard purposely drops it on the floor in front of Vahan before making some mean comments about Armenians.
- Pretty soon, Selim Bey is the biggest presence in Vahan's life. Not that he's met the guy or anything, but he imagines him sitting in his father's old bed or hanging out in his house.
- One day Vahan finally meets the man behind his imagination. Selim Bey comes to visit him, and tells him he knew Vahan's dad—he says that if he could have stopped his dad "being called" (read: being killed), he would have.
- He asks all sorts of questions about how Vahan is doing: Does he get enough to eat? Is he comfortable? Is he warm enough at night?
- Then he makes Vahan a promise: As long as he eats, Vahan will eat too. It's hard for an Armenian to find food these days.
- After Selim Bey leaves, Vahan thinks about how kind and warm the guy was. Could this really be the same guy who is killing people?
- That night, when the guard brings Vahan's dinner, he doesn't spill any of the water or drop the bread on the ground.
- And later, Vahan gets a pillow and a blanket. He figures this is because Selim came to see him, and at first he doesn't want to accept this charity, but then he comes around to it.
- One day Selim offers him some advice: It's every man for himself; there are no flags or countries to be loyal to, just yourself.
- Vahan thinks about this, and is shocked by how kind and well-dressed Selim always is. Yet he also tells us that he now realizes this is only because Selim was taking people's stuff after sending them off to be killed.