What is Arn doing to keep his friends alive?

In order to keep himself save and alive, as well as the others, Arn ignores everyone around him. He betrays no knowledge, and avoids eye contact, hoping he won't recognized or linked to anyone.

As a musician, Arn takes on new importance, and he uses this new position to help others. He makes it his mission to sneak food to those who are starving, and promptly apologizes, showing submission, when he's caught somewhere he isn't supposed to be. He tries to keep of the strength of the weakest, as he knows that they will be the first transported to the "mango grave", a place of no return.