Part 2, Chapters 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 Summary

Nicholas wakes to find himself abandoned in a ruined shack in an isolated village, left alone with food and directions on how to get back to the school. As he eats and prepares to leave, he feels somehow triumphant, not only that he'd survived Conchis' test, but that he'd proved them wrong about him - he has transcended their beliefs that he would be judgmental and petty (see "Quotes", p. 481). Later, however, he realizes that this joy is as much an illusion as everything else that went on. He returns to the school to find several letters waiting - one from Leverrier, refusing to speak any further of his experiences at Bourani, another confirming Julie's identity, another from Alison's mother acknowledging his letter of condolence on Alison's death, and a fourth from Alison's old roommate, containing photographs Alison took...