Section 22 Summary

Adam is back to his bike journey. He is lying on the side of the road and a car has stopped to help him. In it are an elderly man and his wife on the way to his wife's doctor's appointment after her stroke. The man tells Adam he saw one of the wheels of his bike sticking out of the ditch. He thought Adam looked like he was asleep.

It is now four o'clock in the afternoon. Adam tells the man he lost his balance and fell in the ditch. He doesn't mention the wise guys' attack. The old man offers Adam a ride to the next town, which is close to Belton Falls, his destination for the night. Adam accepts the offer, realizing the important thing is to reach Rutterburg as soon as possible and not the manner of traveling.

The...