I Am Pilgrim

The narrative switches to al-Nassouri, heading for Beirut to work on his virus. When his work is complete, he enlists a naïve accomplice to ensure that his deadly vials are shipped to their future location. He buys a cell phone as a gift for a lonely, idealistic boy in his congregation and enlists his promise to help. He misses his family but is comforted by the upcoming date of his perfect plan: Columbus Day, marking America’s rise as a colonial power. He departs Beirut for Germany.

After a series of flights, Murdoch heads for Bodrum, admitting to fear but also declaring, “I was so alive it was almost intoxicating” (298). He is immediately struck by the sight of the large clifftop mansion where Dodge died, the French House.

Murdoch arrives at the hotel, where he is greeted by a particularly effusive manager. The man regales him with tales of recent fireworks in town, the commemoration of a Turkish holiday. He soon realizes that the spectacle took place the evening Dodge fell. After Murdoch confirms he is in town to investigate the death, the manager hands him a message from the local police. In his hotel room, Murdoch makes some discouraging discoveries.