Summary

Chapter 26 began with the men approaching another lock on their journey South. As they went through, Jean pondered the effects of habit on one’s livelihood. As they sailed on, Max spotted a deer struggling in the water. It could not swim and was splashing violently in distress. All three of the men tried to save the deer with buoys. When their efforts failed, Cuneo and Max entered the water in a final attempt to save the animal. Refusing to trust them, the deer struggled to its death. The men were deeply saddened by the death and did their best to avoid one another for the remainder of the day in an attempt to mask their feelings.

In Chapter 27, the men remained silent all day as they headed towards Cuisery, the town of books. They stopped in Apremont-sur-Allier, where Cuneo knew a sculptor...