response to question 4

Rating: 9/10 (19 May 2009)

Mike goes back to find Nicky for three main reasons. First, he loves him and wants him to come back home. Second, he feels responsible for getting him involved with Russian roulette. Finally, he knows that Nicky is in serious danger because he is sending money back to the United States that he could have only gotten if he was risking his life playing Russian roulette.
Mike has been good friends with Nicky for a very long time. He cares about him very much and wants him to come back home. The group feels incomplete without Nicky there and it feels like they lost him in the war even though he is still alive. Mike feels like he can bring Nicky back to life if he can convince him to return home. Unfortunately, Nicky really is lost and passes up the opportunity to save his life.
Mike was the one who convinced Nicky to play Russian roulette for the first time. Even though it was in order to save their lives, Mike still feels a little responsible for the path that Nicky chose to take with his life. He also feels extremely guilty for leaving him behind after promising that he wouldn't. He wants to try to save him before it is too late. Nicky was very against playing Russian roulette when they were imprisoned so Mike probably thought that he could reverse Nicky's thinking again to try to save his life again.
When Mike finds out that Stevie is receiving money from Nicky, he immediately knows that Nicky is playing Russian roulette to earn the money. This is a huge concern for Mike because he knows how dangerous it is. He has seen many people die from the game and he knows that he needs to stop it as soon as possible. In the end Mike's worst fears are confirmed when Nicky dies playing Russian roulette right in front of him.