Section 10
From Shukhov's going to bed to the end of the novel
Shukhov pulls off his boots and hoists himself up into
his bunk. He examines the bit of steel he has found, planning to
make a good knife over the next four days. He knows that he must
hide the forbidden piece of steel carefully. Meanwhile, he sees
Fetyukov return sobbing and bleeding. Fetyukov has been beaten up
as punishment for licking out the bowls in the mess hall. Shukhov
feels sorry for him. Tsezar calls out to Shukhov, asking to borrow
his folding knife to cut sausage. Shukhov willingly lends it to
Tsezar, knowing that Tsezar will reward him for the favor. Resting
on his bunk, Shukhov overhears Tsezar offering goodies to Buynovsky
and telling stories about the Soviet government's attempts to make
a visiting American official believe that the Soviet economy was
thriving by stocking a local store to the gills right before the
American arrived. Tsezar gives Shukhov some biscuits, sugar, and
a slice of sausage.
A warden called Snub Nose arrives to warn Tyurin that
some of his men have not yet submitted their written explanations
for possessing forbidden items. Tyurin tells him it is hard for
many of them to submit explanations because they are illiterate.
Snub Nose says they must submit explanations by the morning. Snub
Nose also summons Buynovsky for a trip to the hole for ten days'
punishment. Shukhov reflects on the cold stone walls of the hole,
and how fifteen days in it would kill a man while ten days would
mean tuberculosis.
The hut orderly calls the men outside for a body count.
Tsezar panics. He does not know what to do with his parcel. Shukhov
urges him to be the last to leave the hut. Shukhov promises to be
the first to come back in, and to guard the bag. Outside the men
wait in the cold for the count. When it is over, Shukhov dashes
back inside and pulls off his boots near Tsezar's bunk. Another
prisoner eyes him suspiciously. Tsezar returns and thanks Shukhov
for his help.
Shukhov lies down on his bare mattress, wondering why
women back home bother with sheets, which just create more laundry.
He is happy, and thanks God out loud for another day done. He sees
Alyoshka reading the New Testament. Alyoshka has heard Shukhov thank
God, and asks why Shukhov does not pray to him properly. Shukhov
replies that prayers are never answered. Alyoshka rebuts that Shukhov
has not prayed hard enough. Aloyshka adds that prayer should be
for spiritual goods, not earthly ones like the daily ration of bread.
He urges Shukhov not to covet material goods. Shukhov lies back
down, reflecting on Alyoshka's strange gladness at being in prison.
A second roll call is ordered. Some of the men have already
fallen asleep, and they grumble as they pull on their clothes. Tsezar
hands the bag of food up to Shukhov, and asks him to hide it under
his pillow, knowing that no one will suspect Shukhov of having anything. The
warden is impatient with the slow movers, and threatens them with
a beating. They all go out. One by one, they are allowed back in.
Shukhov gives Tsezar his bag back, and wonders why Alyoshka always
does favors for everyone without expecting any reward. Shukhov hands
Alyoshka a biscuit. Alyoshka smiles and eats it. Shukhov eats his
bit of sausage.
Shukhov falls asleep content. He has been well fed, found
a blade for a knife, bought tobacco, and hasn't been thrown in the
hole. He notes that it has been an almost happy day. The narrator
remarks that it is just one of the 3,653 days
of Shukhov's ten-year sentence.
