Chapter 40, Birds Summary

The Dreamreader and his shadow reach the southern whirlpool in an exhausted state. They sit panting in the snowy woods and watch the strangely calm surface of the water. The Dreamreader announces that he has in fact decided to stay. He will not escape the Town via the whirlpool although he will send the shadow out. The shadow argues that the Dreamreader is abandoning any chance of a meaningful life by remaining in a perfect but static Town devoid of contention and conflict and therefore meaning. The Dreamreader explains that the Town is his own creation; he feels responsible for the Town and the people and desires to remain and see what will eventually happen. The shadow, sadly, accepts his decision and enters the whirlpool alone. The Dreamreader watches as the shadow is pulled under by the current and vanishes forever...