Section X (pages 273-300) Summary

In section X Richard asserts to Lentz that Helen is conscious because of the fact that she understood her own "mortality" and that something is going on in the center during the bomb scare without Richard telling her. During the ensuing argument Lentz states, "All the meanings are yours." Lentz tells Richard that he is reading more into Helen than is actually there. He is, in a sense, projecting himself into the machine. Helen's responses during the argument cause Lentz to re-consider his conclusion.

Richard returns to his time with C. In the last section, C. mentions that maybe they should have a child. Richard has never wanted kids and he assumed that C. did not either. She then asks him why they have never gotten married. Again, Richard assumed it was not a big deal for...