The Passage

The Night of Blades and Stars begins while Auntie writes in her 27th book. She writes repetitively because memories always lead to more memories, and it’s hard to remember which ones she has already recorded.

She’s writing about Peter. She remembers Prudence Jaxon visiting her with a box, in the late stages of cancer. Prudence died a month later but told Auntie that Peter had to “Come to it on his own” (444).

Jimmy visits and is surprised that she’s crying. When she asks if he’s there because of the girl, Jimmy isn’t sure. He repeats his name several times and reminds her that he visited tonight, as if creating an alibi for later.

The Night of Blades and Stars was actually three nights with two days in between each. Everyone reacts to the girl differently, but most people have dreams and visions. The common factor is that they all commune with their dead when she’s nearby.

Soo is preoccupied with her demotion. She is reading a book to distract herself on Platform Nine when Jimmy appears.

Everyone dreams that night. A child named Jane dreams of a bear that says it will eat her. She is alone. She sees that the bear tore part of Teacher’s throat away before swallowing Jane’s leg.