In the Skin of a Lion

Patrick is released from prison in January 1938. He travels to Union Station and remembers the time when Clara left him there. Upon returning to Toronto, he goes to see Nicholas. They remember Alice together. He reconnects with Hana, who asks about his time in prison. He hardly spoke during his time in prison—he “had protected himself with silence […] Secrecy kept him powerful” (212)—but he tells her he made one friend (Caravaggio).

The scene jumps to Ambrose Small’s final days. He is still in hiding with Clara. He has deteriorated mentally and speaks “as if what had kept all his diverse worlds separate had been pulled out of him like a spine” (213). In the moment of his death he is symbolized as a heron.

In the next scene, Clara calls Patrick at the apartment he shares with Hana. Clara tells Patrick that Ambrose is dead and asks him to come to Marmora to get her. He agrees and tells Hana he will explain who Clara is on the drive. This moment finally contextualizes the scene described in the Prologue.

The next section describes growing unrest among the workers on the waterworks project. It has reached such a fever pitch that Commissioner Harris sleeps in his office to protect the structure.