This chapter is presented as a formal “Briefing of Events” dated January 19-20, 1943, compiled by the building’s notary, Jan Everard. The document states that he conducted a thorough search of Colonel Warlemont’s apartment in the company of Ivo Van Cauter, the new resident in apartment 2L, and found only a registered man named Jacques Goffin. The following morning, the Gestapo searched the entire building, with Van Cauter participating. The only contraband found was Francois Sauvin’s unusable rifle.

The report notes that Francois was taken for questioning based on four prior accusations: refusing work, manipulating ration tickets, being a Jewish sympathizer, and allegedly helping the DeBaerres with false identity papers. On that last point, the report notes that Dirk DeBaerre denied Sauvin knew anything when questioned, and both Mr. and Mrs. DeBaerre died shortly thereafter, so the report was filed but never investigated. It also records that Colonel Warlemont’s dog, Zipper, attacked Van Cauter and was subsequently ordered to be shot by the Gestapo on suspicion of rabies. The briefing concludes by mentioning that a full search of the former Raphaël apartment is now underway.

This section is a formal list of residents at 33 Place Brugmann, sworn and attested on April 2, 1939, but dated January 20, 1942. It provides the name, apartment number, and occupation or status of each resident. Notable entries include Masha Balyayeva, listed as “deceased, unconfirmed”; the Raphaël family, noted as being in Britain; the deceased Martin and Katrin DeBaerre; and the new resident in 2L, city administrator Ivo Van Cauter.

This chapter consists of a single statement from the perspective of Ivo Van Cauter, a city administrator. He confesses directly to having shot a dog. Immediately after this admission, he declares that he will not say anything more about the incident, refusing to provide any further details or explanation.

This chapter is titled after Jacques Goffin, an unemployed man who is deaf and nonverbal. The entirety of the chapter’s content consists of the single letter “x” printed on the page. There is no narrative prose, and therefore no plot events, character decisions, or revelations occur within this section.

In a final message to Charlotte, Francois expresses his pride in her unique artistic vision and her strength, which he believes will ensure her survival. He tells an allegorical story about their square, where a beautiful garden was destroyed and replaced by a monstrous church, causing the residents to lose hope. In the story, a young woman is the only one who can see the truth of their world. She witnesses the church collapse and flood the square with blood, while a great lioness stands on the steps, gazing at the moon. Francois explains that through this vision of destruction, the young woman finally “could see the world rightly” (327).

From beyond the grave, Masha recalls an intimate moment with Harry, where they discovered they shared a similar childhood fantasy about a boy and girl meeting in a stone tower after a long journey, which made her realize he was her destiny. Masha also reflects on Charlotte’s relationship with her husband, Philippe, believing he never loved Charlotte enough to put her first in his life. She remembers Charlotte telling her about Philippe’s criticism of her art; he worried her colorblindness would hinder her success, yet he ironically asked for her advice on color. Masha regrets not warning Charlotte to seek a more protective partner and concludes that the lioness “has a different way of seeing” (332).

While escaping over the mountains in Spain, Julian reads from Wittgenstein’s Tractatus, the book Charlotte gave him. He reflects on telling Charlotte he loves her, as well as on a critical secret: His family’s valuable paintings are hidden under the floorboards in the Sauvins’ apartment, a plan devised by Francois. 

Upon reaching Gibraltar, Julian learns that his pilot was sent to a prisoner’s camp after a brief stay in hospital, and that Charlotte’s husband, Philippe, is presumed dead after his plane was shot down. Julian is heartbroken for Charlotte. He concludes with a quote from Wittgenstein: “Whereof one cannot speak…” (334).

Charlotte independently completes Wittgenstein’s quote: “…Thereof one must be silent” (335). The night after her father’s arrest, Schmidt visits carrying a bundle of the Raphaëls’ silver; a piece falls to the floor, and he steps around Charlotte and continues downstairs with it, having promised to check on Francois at Gestapo headquarters. Shortly after he leaves, Charlotte hears a plane fly low over the building, followed by a huge explosion. Later, she has a vision of a lioness entering her apartment, which she welcomes without fear.

The next morning, January 21, Charlotte goes to the Gestapo headquarters and finds only the hole where a plain art deco building once stood. She overhears that a Belgian RAF pilot named Longchamps bombed it in revenge. Realizing her father is dead, she confronts an officer, who dismisses her. As she walks home numbly, she feels her baby move for the first time. The sensation grounds her and gives her the will to go on.

Back in her father’s office, she finds his sketchbook. It is filled with architectural drawings of a reimagined, humane version of their apartment building, where all the residents coexist peacefully, accompanied by quotes from Wittgenstein’s Tractatus. The final page is a self-portrait of Francois, healthy and whole, holding a pencil that is also an olive branch, with the caption: “What is thinkable is also possible” (342). Looking out at the city, Charlotte resolves not to give up on it, just as her father never did.