Chapter 27 Jenny

The execution: Food arrives for the prisoners but it is half the normal ration. Jim is happy to see food but is disapointed that there is less. Jim goes to collect Basie's ration for and queues with the other prisoners from E block after doing several other jobs for Basie like washing his shirts. It is clearer now how Basie is using Jim, but Jim knows it , in return for old magazines to read. Jim does the jobs to rty to keep the camp going and is excited when Basie gives him another magazine even though he knows it isn't really a fair deal. Sitting outside E block Jim sees a Chinese man being executed. The coolie is surrounded by the japanese who have briefly sounded the air raid siren to get the other prisoners attention. Many other prisoners watch without trying to help the man and barely moving. "Jim realised...none of the British internees would raise a finger, even if every coolie in China was beaten to death in front of them." Jim too isn't bothered to see the murder and he goes back to his room to the comapany of the Vincents who then argue as they have found Jim's turtle and try to get rid of it, but Jim stands his ground.