Summary

“The Revelation” begins with Filth back home from his trip to Gloucestershire. Kate, his housekeeper, had come back to him. Filth told Kate and Garbutt that he was making another trip, this time to Malaysia to return to the place of his birth. Kate and Garbutt were once again concerned. Kate felt that flying was especially unsafe at that time, as it was soon after 9/11. Filth was nevertheless determined to go, so Garbutt unearthed his old suitcase—a brand named “Revelation,” with “Islam” written on it for the name of its previous owner—from the attic. After he had gotten back home, Filth had started to talk to Betty again; he felt he had been neglecting her memory. “Memory and desire – I must keep track of them. Mustn’t lose hold” (251).

Filth attended church on Christmas Day...