The battle weary men in Paul's platoon receive
reinforcements, but they are half-starved. "Long time since you've had anything decent
to eat, eh?" Kat asks the new recruits, revealing a tub half full of bean and beef.
Paul remarks that Katczinsky has a sixth sense. Somehow he is able to find what no one
else can: When the men have nothing but metal for a mattress, he finds straw; when the
men are starving, he goes off on his own and returns with hot, baked bread and a
blood-stained bag with horse-flesh.
That is Kat. If for one hour in a year
something eatable were to be had in some one place only, withing that hours, as if moved
by a vision, he would put on his cap, go out, and walk directly there, as though
following a compass, and find
it.
Of course, Paul
exaggerates here, but Kat is one of those uniquely resourceful people who is able to
deal, steal, or whatever is necessary in order to survive. He finds what is needed when
no one else can because he has an instinct for survival and he is an experienced
soldier.
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