you can reread the scene involving Mrs. Schachter's reaction on the train.
Madame Schaechter is the woman who is separated from her family on the train, and subsequently loses her mind. She also screams hysterically over the vision of a flaming furnace, something realized upon their arrival at the camp.
Look at the fire! Look at the flames! Flames everywhere…"
Once again, the young men bound and gagged her. When they actually struck her, people shouted their approval:
"Keep her quite! Make that madwoman shut up. She’s not the only one here …"
She received several blows to the head, blows that could have been lethal. ch 2
