The Work
- Primo gets a new bunkmate, Resnyk. He's a nice guy, who's also assigned to Primo's Kommando (work detail).
- Today, the workers have to unload from a wagon a ginormous cast-iron cylinder to be used in the factory.
- Moving a big object like this is easier than moving the iron pipes that they usually move, because the load is spread out among more people. It's more dangerous, though, because if you slack off on paying attention, you can easily get crushed.
- After the cylinder is unloaded, the workers have to unload and carry wooden beams weighing over 175 pounds each. These are used to make a pathway upon which the huge cylinder will be moved.
- Primo wants to pair up with Resnyk, who's taller than him and can bear more of the load. He's afraid Resnyk will want to work with someone stronger.
- Success. Resnyk agrees to work with Primo.
- Even so, the work of carrying this heavy load through the snow is almost unbearable for Primo.
- Primo heads off to the bathroom, where he can get some rest. He's accompanied by Wachsmann, the weakest guy in the Kommando, who's assigned to accompany people to the latrine so they won't try to escape.
- After returning to work for awhile, Primo is happy that it's time for lunch, and a quick nap. The prisoners fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion after eating.
- A cruelly short time later, the workers are summoned back to their labors.