Lev and Kolya arrive at the home of Sonya, Kolya’s friend, who welcomes them warmly and sympathizes with Lev over the loss of his home and friends. After some flirtatious banter between Kolya and Sonya, they are invited into the sitting room where they meet six more of Sonya’s friends—doctors and nurses who have been trying to save bombing victims. They tell Lev that a few people survived the bombing of the Kirov.

Lev sleeps on the sitting room floor with the other visitors, while Kolya spends the night with Sonya in her bedroom. Lev is lonely and extremely envious of Kolya’s popularity with women.

The next morning sees Lev and Kolya investigating the market vendor’s incredulous claim that an old man near the Narva Gate has chickens. After waiting outside the locked building, they are extremely surprised when two girls arrive and tell them that the chickens really do exist. As Kolya charms the girls into letting them into the building, Lev once again seethes with envy at Kolya’s seductive effect on women. At the same time, he is haunted with grief over the fate of his neighbors in the Kirov.