The narrator is surrounded by women. The narrator believes language is a tool of sexism. Words such as “manliness” and “womanliness” create a binary, with the former term suggesting strength, while the other acts as an antonym, suggesting weakness. Even in Polish tradition, age is sexist. Older men are wise while older women are resentful. The narrator feels especially uneasy over the use of mankind to represent both men and women, as, “a ‘mankind woman’ is a virago, a monster” (115).

One of the Polish guards who moved Peter Dieter’s body patrolled the woods in winter. His main responsibility was to ensure that the border with the Czech Republic was blocked. He knew everyone from the area, constantly watching them as they went about their lives.

On New Year’s Eve, the guard struggled riding his motorbike through the snow. When he encountered a group of young adults, his mood soured further. When he asked for their identity cards, they brought him to their cabin. They were from the city, and offered him tea and cake. As he ate, he realized he was an intruder, despite them being the visitors to his home.

The guard left, but as he drove away, he thought the group were wolf people.