Book One, Part Four, Chapters 19-26 Summary

In Chapter 19 Roland, Colonel Macklin, and Teddybear Warner hatch a plan to get into Earth House's emergency supply stash. Instead of digging themselves, they decide to employ civilians in case the ceiling caves in. The air circulation system in Earth House is no longer working and Macklin is concerned about their air supply.

In Chapter 20 Sister, Jack, Beth, Artie, and the Spanish woman cross through the flooded Holland tunnel. Jack's courage fails and he cannot continue, but the others continue through, though the ceiling is falling around them and there are corpses afloat everywhere. Though at the last moment their lighter is extinguished, they make it through to the Jersey shore.

Chapter 21 returns to the basement with Josh, Swan, PawPaw, and Darleen, whose condition is deteriorating. She relates a dream to Swan in...