The Diamond Eye

The narrative returns to Washington, DC, in 1942 and the unnamed sniper’s observation of the delegation breakfast. Eleanor Roosevelt says that Mila’s sniper tally may alienate American audiences, especially women. Mila, disregarding delegation orders to use interpreters only, tells the First Lady in English that Americans cannot understand the suffering and death that have surrounded her, especially since Lyonya’s death. Her speech marks the first time the American sniper considers the possibility Mila may in fact be a skilled combat veteran, not a propaganda myth.

Alone with Franklin, Eleanor regrets that she may have damaged a relationship with Mila, although her comment was meant to highlight the naivete of Americans, not to disparage wartime valor. She senses that her husband is interested in using Mila to pursue his foreign policy goal of a two-front war. Eleanor reflects that her husband has a habit of relying on women to carry out his agenda. She wonders if his political enemies understand that victory in the war depends on him.

The narrative returns to Sevastopol, where Mila is in the hospital arguing with Alexei about her new post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and mandatory rest period.