Chapters 18 and 19 Summary

Next noon, before anyone comes to fly, Shimoda asks if Richard remembers saying his problem is that no one listens. Shimoda announces that is why Richard is here: to learn it does not matter whether he communicates or not. The Is does not need Shimoda to tell anyone how the world works, so Shimoda could have said nothing. Richard finds this obvious, which offends Shimoda.

Richard is fueling his plane when Shimoda is shot gunned in his cockpit, and the assassin joins the crowds in fleeing. As if in slow motion, Richard runs to his friend; nothing else matters. Gory and motionless, Shimoda is still able to speak. Richard says lightly he had thought Shimoda had no enemies, and Shimoda replies the killer is a friend. He does not want to think some hater has brought trouble into the hater's own...