Iris accompanied Marisol Torres and Attie to the infirmary, a converted U-shaped school where they delivered bread and soup. Nervous about speaking to wounded soldiers and hoping to find her brother Forest, Iris entered the assembly hall, where many injured were recovering. She took in the sight of missing limbs, bandages, and burns, searching the beds for Forest but not finding him.

Iris’s attention settled on a soldier her own age, a blond girl named Prairie, who invited Iris to play cards. Prairie refused to speak to reporters but welcomed company at cards; the two played quietly until lunch arrived. When Iris asked how to locate a specific soldier, Prairie explained that official channels like the command center in Mundy rarely replied, especially without unit details, and mail was unreliable.

Seeing Iris’s disappointment, Prairie asked Iris to write a letter to her sister. Iris agreed and carefully transcribed Prairie’s words. Inspired, Iris moved from bed to bed offering to write letters for other soldiers, choosing not to ask about the war or Forest, and filling her notepad with the soldiers’ homesick messages and hopes.

As Iris wrote, dread set in about Forest’s silence. She feared he might be dead but had received no official notice. The chapter closed with Iris composing a formal letter of inquiry requesting information on Private Forest Merle Winnow’s station or status, providing his enlistment details and description, and stating she was his only remaining blood relative.