Summary

Almost a month passes before Aaron and Helen regain access to the documents. The Spinoza reference had not been discovered as “assessors, like document conservationists, were rarely scholars” (137). Helen’s mind feels blank, though she is no longer on the medication for her tremor that had “left long, dark spaces between her thoughts” (140). “The cruelest of ironies came to her: now that the papers had found her, it would be too late – because she lacked the stamina” (141). Helen believes Aleph may have lost her position as scribe but would not have ceased writing, based on the risk taken to record the Spinoza reference.

In Helen’s office, Jonathan Martin’s secretary informs them that his former student will also have access to the manuscripts; the professor feels “a shiver of betrayal” (143). Aaron asks her why she has the portrait of the Masada in her...