Sections 20-21, pages 250- 282 Summary

In these two sections, we see the annual return of Baltasar and Blimunda to the resting place of the Passarola, where they conduct their repairs, and also the inner court of the monarch of Portugal, King Dom Joao the fifth as he contemplates the convent at Mafra.

Baltasar and Blimunda leave the town of Mafra for a few days, even though it means the loss of work for Baltasar at the convent. They travel southwards, out to the high sierra's that border Spain and eventually come to the resting place of the Passarola, where they begin work. Here they find the airship in a state of some disrepair, as they need to brush and scrape the rust from the metal plates and repair the sails. Baltasar and Blimunda enjoy themselves, remembering their adventure of a few years...