The Chocolate War: Chapter 22 Summary & Analysis

Brian Cochran cannot believe his eyes—chocolate sales are dropping “at an alarming rate.” Yesterday saw the sharpest drop of all, and Brian nervously worries what Brother Leon will say when he sees the dismal figures. Leon gives Brian the creeps, and Brian worries that Leon will punish him even though he is simply the bearer of bad news.

When Leon enters the room, Brian warns him right away that the figures are bad. Leon asks Brian to read off the names of the boys who have reached or surpassed their quota; there are only five of them, including David Caroni. Leon asks Brian to continue reading down the list in descending order of the number of chocolate boxes sold, and Leon listens intently as Brian does so.

When Brian at last reaches the bottom of the list and reads off “Renault…zero,” Brother Leon becomes incensed. He tells Brian that the other boys have become “infected” by Jerry’s apathy—at least, he says, the “carrier of the disease” is known. Brian looks on in horror as Leon whispers Jerry’s last name to himself, over and over, “like a mad scientist plotting revenge in an underground laboratory.”