Summary

Part III begins with Chapter 24, as the fire rages through town until it finally goes out the next morning. They survey the damage at Nigel’s house and find him gone. Martin and Lane talk, and Martin voices his belief that he could be the savior of this community. Regardless, Martin thinks about how he saw Henry trying to steal Martin’s father’s book, and thinks he can not be trusted. He resolves to hold a trial for Henry, which the society has done before for Kelvin. Martin lies to Darla and said the book Henry stole had “important coordinates [they] need to enter into the machine” (175). He is sentenced to six months in the so-called “Ring of Penance” away from town, which basically entails that he needs to fend for himself for six months, and if he leaves the physical space...