- The prisoners are ushered past three huge piles of overcoats, which belonged to prisoners who have died.
- The German guards want each of the prisoners without an overcoat to take one.
- Billy takes a coat that is small and disgusting. He notices that his fellow soldiers all have soldiers' coats; he is the only one with a civilian's coat.
- Billy and the other prisoners are marched toward the long, narrow sheds where they are being kept.