The chapter introduces us to the protagonist, Semyon Ivanov, a former assistant to an army officer who is now in poor health and living with his wife in Kursk. Life takes an interesting turn for Semyon when he encounters a familiar face at a train station - the station master, who had been an officer in his regiment. Recognizing Semyon's dire situation, the station master offers him a job as a trackwalker and arranges for his wife to join him.
Settling into their new life at the station, Semyon....