- Billy's mom loses consciousness and Billy goes into the waiting room to sit down.
- He realizes he's sitting on something—a book called The Execution of Private Slovik, by William Bradford Huie.
- The book tells the story of the only American soldier to be shot for cowardice since the Civil War.
- A passage from the decision on Slovik's case follows, in which the staff judge recommends that Slovik be executed, not as a punishment, but simply to maintain discipline.