Chemical Examination
- The camp announces that a new Kommando, the Chemical Kommando, is to be formed.
- There's going to be a chemistry examination to see who is skilled enough to work in this unit.
- In the meantime, though, this Kommando now has to go unload sacks of magnesium chloride.
- Primo gets worried about this exam. He's afraid it will be in German. Plus, he thinks it's shameful that they're not dressed appropriately, and are bald, skinny, and smell very bad.
- Despite this, though, Primo has an important insight: he can save himself by becoming a Specialist if he can pass the chemistry examination. This is because Specialists are skilled workers, and are treated marginally better in the camp.
- It's time for the chemistry exam, and the guys selected are afraid they don't remember how to write.
- During the exam, Primo has the feeling that Doktor Pannwitz is looking at him like he's a lower order of human, even though he holds a degree from a major university, and is a specialist in several different fields of chemistry.
- Primo thinks his exam went well, but is afraid to get his hopes up too much.
- It's enough that he's been able to avoid work for one day, and is less hungry than usual.
- On the way back to the camp, Alex, the Kapo, gets grease on his hand, and without a second thought, wipes it off on Primo's shirt, like he's some kind of object.