Summary

Chapter 31 is titled “Gideon's Passage.” Jacob tries to reason with the cat, explaining that he really wants to find his mother and that the tree portal is the key. Gideon takes Jacob to wall covered with a tapestry, then shows Jacob how to step through to reach a tower room. Jacob learns some things there, including the fact that Dr. Silva does not age. He imagines it is possible for her to hide this fact by keeping to herself, but she has also apparently disappeared for a period of time, returning to pose as a daughter or granddaughter of the previous Dr. Silva. Jacob finds the information on the tree.

In Chapter 32, “The Wrong Direction,” it takes time and concentration for Jacob to figure out Dr. Silva's notes about the tree. The portal only opens back for a short period of time, which...