Friends

6.  Why are Enemies and Friends back to back in this book? What is the reader supposed to learn about humanity from these chapters?

A: Enemies and Friends are back to back in this book because it shows the contrast of both. In the chapter, Enemies, Strunk and Jensen disliked each other because of a simple jackknife. They later resolved their issue and became close friends. In the chapter, Friends, Strunk and Jensen made a pact to kill whoever is wounded to put them out of their misery. When Strunk gets wounded, he begs Jensen not to kill him. Jensen does not. Strunk is loaded onto a helicopter but does not survive the trip. Jensen feels rather relieved then sad to know Strunk had died. He feels this way because his pact is honored in a way, but was he being honorable in letting him live? Would he have been honorable in killing him? This chapter shows that two people can start off as enemies and become friends. Also, it shows that humans will always do what they think is right rather than what they should do.