A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

The novel jumps back to the year 1996, shortly after Natasha returned home to the apartment. Natasha sleeps all the time. Sonja learns that Natasha was in Italy and can tell by scars on Natasha’s feet that Natasha was using heroin. Sonja suggests that Natasha speak to a psychiatrist, but Natasha refuses.

At the hospital, Sonja saves the life of a man named Alu who was injured by a land mine. Alu’s brother promises Sonja a favor in exchange. Sonja requests medical supplies and psychology books. Later, in the bazaar, a merchant tries to sell her an ice machine, promising that freezing is the only way to get pure water. Sonja recognizes the man as a former teacher who was inappropriate to her, though the merchant doesn’t recognize her. Sonja leaves after the man makes a rude comment about how she is dressed.

At home, Sonja decides to try to make a pair of pants. Sonja never learned to sew, and the pants are too tight. Natasha, seeing Sonja struggling, agrees to help make them both new clothes.

Later, Sonja runs into Alu’s brother. He takes her to a stolen truck filled with first aid kits. The brother expects Sonja to refuse the stolen supplies, but Sonja is grateful; “for all she cared, the drivers could be hog-tied and beaten, since she now had the ointment to disinfect their cuts, the gauze the bandage their wounds” (117).