- His boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do—Vahan keeps walking as far as he can, away from General Khalil's house.
- When he's walked six or seven miles, he stops and takes a break; he wants to sleep, but he's not sure he can.
- Then he spots a group of Armenian prisoners up ahead. He gets closer and closer to them, hoping to see his sister Oskina among them.
- When he finally gets up to them, he figures out they're not Armenian at all—they're Turkish.
- Vahan tries to blend in anyway, and doesn't say a word so his Armenian accent doesn't give him away, even staying silent when a couple of the Turkish refugees question him.
- Since Vahan stays silent, they think he's mute and deaf. Instantly, they apologize to him. It turns out the Turks think disabled people are close friends of God, so they won't harm him. Phew.
- Vahan stays with their group, and even thinks of them as his new family—but since he can't say a word or even acknowledge when they speak, he still feels really alone.