Part Three, Zero Point: Chapter Nine Summary

The chapter opens with Joe once again at the beach. He walks past a number of groups milling about different bonfires. He takes notice of several of the groups as he strolls along lost in his thoughts of the events of the past few hours. He cannot believe that three people killed themselves in front of him. He stops walking when he sees a group of bald people wearing blue robes. He thinks they must belong to a cult since they all look pretty much the same. He spends a few moments around their bonfire before moving further along the beach to a more secluded spot. He finds that he cannot gain the peace the ocean usually brings him so he leaves the beach.

He uses a payphone a few blocks away from...