The Ten Thousand Doors of January

When January and the others walk through the Door, an old main waits on the other side, pointing a spear at them. January explains they’ve come to Arcadia to hide, and at the mention of her father’s name, the old man drops his spear and leads the group into the city, introducing himself as John Solomon Ayers, or Sol for short. He takes them to the chieftainess, Molly Neptune, who explains that everyone in Arcadia is a runaway of some kind, and the city includes people from all over the world: “a great, untidy family” (270).

In the morning, Molly informs January, Samuel, and Jane that they will have to contribute to the community in order to stay. Everyone must “do their fair share” (272) in order to survive. The land in Arcadia is harsh, and while Arcadia has most necessities, some things they must get from earth. When traveling through the Door, they use a magic feather that makes them invisible to ensure no one follows them back into Arcadia.

Later, an old woman comes to Arcadia, claiming a man followed her through the Door. They then find that someone cut Sol’s throat and he is dead. January knows Sol died because of her presence in Arcadia, and that she has put the entire city at risk.