Summary

In an unclear time, a group of travelers, mostly actors, journey between Philadelphia and Hot Springs. They perform plays, deliver letters, and provide medical services to rural communities. The doctor, however, leaves the group, disappointing everyone. The remaining travelers include the narrator, Alice Palace, a charismatic woman with an ambiguous age, and Laurent Godejohn, a young man raised in a cult. The group encounters a rainstorm in Chattanooga, where some members fall ill after eating wild mushrooms. Alice Palace and the narrator visit the library while the others recover. The narrator reflects on stealing money from a corpse in Chattanooga and observes the mysterious "white road" that runs alongside their path.

Continuing their journey, the group arrives in Bremen, a town devoid of its inhabitants. They hold a mock funeral to deceive the white road and ensure their safety. Henry, a young...