An article titled “Always with the People” attacks an unnamed scientist for their isolation and their ties to “idealist” theories. Everyone knows the article is about Viktor. Sokolov tells Viktor that Anna Stepanovna became ill after reading it. He resolves to tell Lyudmila that he expects to be arrested, but finds her and Nadya joyfully discussing the encirclement. He says nothing. That night, he considers writing a repentance letter.

Colleagues shun Viktor. Savostyanov urges him to write a letter of repentance while Sokolov advises a public confession. Viktor refuses. He tries writing both, tearing up each attempt. Lyudmila opens the door to find her sister Yevgenia with a suitcase and tells her that Tolya is dead.

Yevgenia tells Lyudmila the real reason for her arrival: Krymov is being held in the Lubyanka, accused of Trotskyism and Gestapo links. The authorities seem to have knowledge of a private comment Trotsky made about one of Krymov’s articles. Yevgenia realizes she is the only person Krymov told about this, and she repeated the story to Novikov in Kuibyshev. She fears that Novikov may have betrayed Krymov. She must help Krymov, even if it destroys her relationship with Novikov.

Yevgenia goes to the NKVD reception. In a crowded waiting room, she hears stories of arbitrary cruelty. At her turn, she inquires about Krymov and is given a form. On the relationship line she writes “Wife” and underlines it. Leaving, she feels her past has been erased.

Viktor visits Chepyzhin, who argues the State wrongly sees science as a servant to practical needs. Chepyzhin outlines his philosophy that life is evolving freedom. He has decided not to participate in nuclear fission research, believing humanity is not morally advanced enough to handle such technology. Viktor argues human power has only amplified evil, citing the German slaughter of Jews and collectivization famines. He fears humanity will only create a “galactic concentration camp” (692).

On the morning of the Scientific Council, Viktor is tormented. He fears his Kazan conversations—especially with Madyarov, who has disappeared—may have been reported. As he prepares to leave, at the last moment he takes off his jacket and shoes. He resolves not to attend and feels deep peace. Marya Ivanovna arrives. Viktor realizes he has been in love with her for a long time without being conscious of it.

Viktor walks Marya home. They sit on a bench in silence, their mutual understanding clear. Marya says they cannot see each other again. Her husband has made her promise to stop seeing Viktor. He kisses her hands; she leaves without looking back.

Savostyanov phones to say a harsh resolution condemning Viktor was passed unanimously. Anna Stepanovna, fired, offers sympathy, as does Chepyzhin. Viktor is hurt by those who have not called, especially Sokolov. He explains to Lyudmila they are now “pariahs.” When Lyudmila suggests calling Marya, Viktor stops her, revealing Marya gave her word to Sokolov. He is furious at Sokolov’s betrayal.

Darensky drives through frozen steppe, seeing columns of defeated Germans. In a village, he sees a Red Army colonel kick a collapsed German prisoner. Confronting the man, he insists that “Russians don’t kick a man when he’s down” (713). The enraged colonel threatens him; Darensky stands his ground. Afterward, he feels his capacity for kindness depleted.

Darensky arrives at Novikov’s tank corps HQ. Getmanov delivers a nationalistic speech denouncing Kalmyks, an ethnic group from the Soviet Union. Darensky finds himself agreeing, though puzzled. Novikov offers him the position of deputy chief of staff. Darensky rejects it upon learning the chief of staff is Nyeudobnov, the officer who interrogated and beat him in 1937. They get drunk.

In Kazan, Alexandra Vladimirovna receives distressing letters from Lyudmila, Yevgenia, and Vera. Karimov visits, saying he was questioned by the NKVD. The investigator asked about political conversations in Kazan, focusing on Viktor, and specifically about Yevgenia and Krymov.

In German-held Stalingrad, company commander Lenard travels to 6th Army HQ. He sees German soldiers hacking frozen meat from a horse. The desolate scene strikes him as an image of defeat—twilight of the “New Germany” dream.

At Paulus’s HQ, hunger, fear, and impending doom are slowly humanizing German soldiers, liberating their “core of freedom” (731).

Lenard meets Chalb, the head of military police. Chalb reveals Hitler wants the 6th Army to stand firm, but Paulus, Weichs, and Zeitzler favor capitulation. Chalb offers Lenard a place on a secret evacuation list; Lenard refuses.

On Christmas Eve, Bach hears Russians singing as they dig trenches closer. His sergeant reports minor fraternization. Bach is tormented by his past.

In a German bunker, soldiers talk of food. The divisional commander visits with tiny Christmas trees from Germany. He tells them the pilot was mortally wounded, found dead after landing.

The bunker fills with pine scent. A soldier sings, and others join him. For the first time, the general feels theatricality fall away, replaced by genuine sorrow. During a Soviet barrage, Bach sees Lenard in the doorway, immune to such moments.

A massive starving German soldier named Stumpfe forages and encounters an old Russian woman doing the same. They exchange a slow, majestic greeting and part. Bach sees it as a “summit meeting.” Heavy snow falls, and Bach feels the snow is time itself, erasing any possibility of a future.

Bach is in a cellar with his Russian mistress Zina. Facing annihilation, he realizes she is all that is left. He falls to his knees and delivers a passionate confession of love. Zina cannot understand, but senses his desperate meaning.