Chapter 24 - The Hospital - By Ellie Izzard

The chapter starts with a small description of Dr Ransome and the effect the the years in Lunghua have had on him. Dr Ransome calls Jim for his assistance, so Jim leaved the balcony where he had been watching the burning pilot in the fields. Jim says to Dr Ransome that he was nearly killed, a thought that doesn't seem to shock Jim. The air raid had made Dr Ransome unsettled but he did not take it out on Jim, but spoke to him calmly reminding him that they agreed he should not go up to the balcony during the air raids. Although Jim was up there to try to signal to the American pilots, this is the exact opposite of what Dr Ransome wanted him to be doing. Jim kew this and therefore changed the subject that he has done his Latin prep, a fact that was irrelevant at the time.
They both walked back to the hospital and passed E block where Sergeant Nagata was shouting at the inhabitants, showing that as the years of the war had passed the Japanese had become 'unsettles and dangerous.' Jim questioned Dr Ransome whether the Americans would land at Woosung, the conversation evolved to whether the Japanese would fight them because Dr Ransome mentions that they are the bravest soldiers. However Jim has realised over the years of the war that bravery doesn't matter. The talk ot the war angered Dr Ransome and Jim could tell that he resented him for the fact he was taking enjoyment from it, as if Dr Ramsome blamed him for the air raids.
Jim saw the cone of an air craft shell on the floor and picked it up, but Dr Ransome quickly took it from him amd threw it away as he cared for Jim and protected him, althought Jim was too curious to noctice the gesture of kindness.
They entered the hospital and waited for Sergeant Nagata to do the roll call. Jim looked around the hospital at all the dying patients, questioning why they would come here when there was no medicine left and little chance they would be cured. Sergeant Nagata observed them as Jim was spying what he could trade with Bassie from the dying patients for food, which the Sergeant dissaproved of. Jims mind wandered while the roll call took place to the thought og a hidden American pilot in the hospital, before being snapped back to attention by Mrs Philips, and stood in line for another hour. He thought back to the air raid and that one day he may be a pilot, Jim longed for the next air raid because of the excitement the war gave him.