Chapter 6 delves into the narrator’s reflection on the fifteen years he spent living in New York City, which he describes as his personal purgatory. This period began after he disappeared from Germany at the close of World War II, only to resurface unnoticed in Greenwich Village. He rented a small, shabby attic apartment, where the unsettling presence of rats within the walls added to his sense of isolation. This bleak and oppressive living situation lasted for years, providing him little comfort or connection to the world around him. His days in this dimly lit space were marked by a constant sense of fear and uncertainty, a life lived in the shadows of his past. It wasn’t until a month before his extradition to Israel for trial that this chapter of his life, characterized by solitude and secrecy, finally came to an end.

Though the conditions of his attic apartment were grim, the narrator found some solace in a small, unexpected aspect of his surroundings. The attic featured a window that overlooked a private park formed by the adjoining backyards of nearby buildings. This secluded park, shielded from the chaos of the streets, was a peaceful oasis, large enough to host games of hide-and-seek for children. The sight of this tranquil space became a rare source of comfort for the narrator, offering him a brief respite from the otherwise harsh reality of his life. While the park provided a sense of calm, it was also a poignant reminder of the innocence and simplicity that had long been lost to him. His longing for such peace and joy grew stronger as he watched the children play, their laughter a stark contrast to the fears that had shaped his existence for so long.

From his attic, the narrator often listened to the sounds of children playing in the park below. The cheerful noise of their games was a constant backdrop to his days, but it was the specific cry of “Olly-olly-ox-in-free” that deeply moved him. This cry, signaling the end of a game of hide-and-seek, held a particular significance for him—it was an invitation for those who had been hiding to come out, a symbol of release and freedom. For the narrator, this cry became a symbol of his own desire for an end to his prolonged evasion, a desperate wish for the game of running from his past and his fears to finally conclude. In a moment of profound longing, he expressed the hope that someone would call out that cry for him, signaling an end to his isolation and fears, and offering him the release he so desperately sought. This yearning for a return to innocence, for the end of the game that had defined his life, highlighted the deep emotional turmoil and loneliness he had been living with.

The chapter powerfully illustrates the narrator’s longing for freedom and connection, underscoring the emotional weight of his isolation during his fifteen years in New York. His deep desire for an end to his internal turmoil stands in stark contrast to the innocent joy of the children in the park, who are unaware of the complex and painful history that has shaped the narrator’s life. The juxtaposition between his life of secrecy and the carefree happiness of childhood becomes a poignant commentary on the effects of trauma and guilt, revealing the emotional cost of living in constant fear and regret. The chapter thus explores themes of isolation, the search for redemption, and the human desire for release from past sins, highlighting how the innocence of youth can serve as both a painful reminder of lost joy and a symbol of the freedom that has been denied to the narrator.