The narrative shifts in flashback to Dick’s younger years in college, leading up to the war and then his military service. His nickname, “Lucky Dick,” highlights the optimism of those years and the attitude which he felt toward himself. Upon retiring from military service, Dick receives his degree and joins a fellowship of neurologists. He rooms with Ed Elkins and studies psychology in Switzerland, searching for a way to distinguish himself among his peers.

Dick meets with Franz Gregorovius, another psychologist, in Zurich, and they reflect about the war. They also discuss a pretty young woman, Nicole Warren, whom Dick met while on discharge from military service. Dick took an interest in her before realizing she was a patient at the clinic which he and Franz are now visiting. The clinic is a hospital for patients with mental health conditions and belongs to Dr. Dohmler.

Once at the psychiatric hospital, Dick waits while Franz attends to business matters. In Franz’s office, Dick reminisces about the letters he received from Nicole over the course of eight months. The letters are then included in the text. Nicole’s tone, though admiring of Dick, is also sometimes incoherent.