Chapter 20 Summary

Odd goes to Jacob's room. Odd sits at the table across from him and looks at Jacob's drawing. Jacob was born with some affliction that reminds Odd of Down's Syndrome in some ways, but not in others. Jacob is working carefully on a woman's portrait. Odd tells Jacob how talented he is. Jacob asks Odd if he ever floats away when the dark comes, and that he's afraid he'll float wrong when the dark comes. After a while, Jacob says simply, "he wants me dead.'"

Chapter 20 Analysis

When Odd crosses the courtyard and finds the room opposite Justine's, he finds Jacob sitting a table drawing. Odd asks if he can come in and takes the silence he gets as assent. Jacob is drawing one of dozens of portraits of the same woman. Speaking quietly to Odd, he asks him if he ever...