Before their trip to Montana, Rye pens a letter to Gig. Though he wants to tell Gig about the deal with Lem, Rye writes instead about their efforts to free him from prison, his reunion with Early, and the pride he feels about having joined the protest.

Gurley prepares Rye to meet Al Bolin, a union leader in Wallace who will serve as their guide. Al, having survived an anarchist bomb, has many scars and uses prosthetics, making it difficult for Rye to look away from him. Al shows the visitors around and then brings them to speak to a group of socialists. The results of this event are lukewarm, and Gurley decides she wants to speak to real workers rather than idealists. Al suggests bringing them to the nearby town of Taft, a name Early seems to recognize. Gurley agrees with the plan, but Early is anxious.

Before they set out for Taft, Rye decides to confront Early about a smirk he had worn during Rye’s last speech. At a saloon, Early reassures Rye that he had not been laughing at him. He explains that he disagrees with Rye’s commitment to the union and tries to get Rye to admit that he does not believe in Gurley’s utopian vision.