- Since the Russian army invaded his country five years ago, Tomas sees that Prague has changed considerably.
- Many of has friends have emigrated; many are dead. The death rate soared, explains the narrator, because people felt so hopeless.
- One day Tomas attends the funeral of a famous biologist who had lost his job, like Tomas, for political reasons.
- The Russian police are there, recording who attends. He spots the editor with the big chin, though the man indicates from a distance that they should not speak together.