Summary

Chapter 13 begins with Jakub talking to Petr for the first time after their reunion. Jakub told Petr how he survived. He told Petr everything except for his possible hallucinations. Petr and Jakub returned to Petr’s house, and Jakub asked about Lenka. Petr gave Jakub recordings of sessions between Lenka and Jakub’s psychiatrist. The sessions revealed that Lenka felt that Jakub had rescinded his “contract” (211) with her by becoming an astronaut.

After Jakub had read the recordings, he decided that he should not reveal himself to the public. Petr told Jakub that he needed physical recovery after his time in space, so he sent Jakub to Carlsbad, a spa town with healing springs, to recover. Petr gave Jakub some money and left him there for three weeks. Jakub’s small room was satisfactory, and every...