Chaper Twenty-Two Summary

Ethan wades into his secret place at the old harbor, as the tide is rising. His billfold full of money and papers gets soaked. The rain abates into a thin mist, and the tide brings tiny jellyfish into his place, stinging Ethan. He can see the stars, some mast lights on the harbor. He thinks of Aunt Deborah's light, Marullo's light, and his grandfather's light, still burning.

Ethan believes his light has gone out. He wants to go home, but not his real home—the home where lights are given. He thinks of goodbye, with a warm bath and an open vein.

The increasing tide coming into his place moves his arms and legs and rolls him about in the water, and he reaches for the razor blades. He discovers instead that he has brought the talisman with him, and...