Section 24, Part 1 Summary

"Endgame"

In chess, the term "endgame" is used to describe a formalized series of moves by which one opponent seals and confirms victory of another. The quote at the beginning of this section is among the longest single quotes in the book, and describes a game of chess in epic poetic terms, commenting at one point that the pieces in the game have no idea that their moves are being plotted by an unseen, omnipotent player - here referred to as destiny.

September 1973. Catherine, Lily and Solarin arrive in New York harbor on Labor Day. Their boat blends in with a number of other boats filled with holiday partiers, so they're able to slip in and dock without having to go through customs. They agree that Lily should go and fetch Mordecai and his pieces and rendezvous with Catherine and Solarin...