Cereus Blooms At Night

Part 4 is significantly shorter than the novel’s earlier sections. It opens with Ambrose and Otoh watching the sunrise, or lack thereof, the morning after the fire at Mala’s house. Ambrose explained to his son why he has been sleeping nearly all the time for all these years: He “couldn’t face” himself. He was ashamed of abandoning Mala and playing a part in the tragedy and trauma that took place in her house. He was upset about losing Mala and asked Otoh: “Did I lose you, too, son?” (234). Ambrose also noted that he attempted to go back to Mala three times, but each time, she was wild and unreachable. She would come at him violently and scream nonsensical noises. Believing Mala’s mind to be completely gone, Ambrose gave up trying to reach her, though not before rescuing the damaged gramophone. Otoh listened silently and with growing aggravation to Ambrose’s explanations, and he finally told his father that he would like to go see Mala as soon as they were able, wherever they placed her. He also wanted to bring her the cuttings that he saved from the cereus plant in her yard.