Book III, Christopher, Chapters 4-6 Summary

Paul's return interests television newsman Patrick Graham, who pumps his old fellow revolutionary, Stephanie Webster, for background information. She offers no comment. Paul learns that his net worth has grown to $1,458,292, and moves into Horace's small house on O St., which Stephanie has been house-sitting. He keeps to his spartan prison routine and begins writing down the poem he has been composing in his mind.

Barney visits, asks about how he had been treated in China, and is surprised to hear that his friend Gus had been responsible for Paul landing there. He now feels guilty for the fate of the only two people he has ever liked, Paul and Hubbard. They commiserate on having had no sex in years. Paul's heightened senses pick up a rose fragrance mixed in with Barney's meat and whiskey...