Summary

Chapter 1, “Body-without-Soul,” opens in an unnamed suburban town. The town is described as somewhat idyllic and somewhat nondescript. Marjorie Vicks, a local schoolteacher, lives in a house in the town. The address number of her house is 49, but the narration does not give the name of the street. Marjorie is unmarried and is about 50 years old, and she has a pet dog. Mary has a romantic/sexual relationship with a man known only as ‘the sorcerer,’ who always travels via the car he owns. Marjorie often sees children on the street. Boys play baseball in the road, and girls converse with each other and trade stickers and similar items. One of the boys is named Eddie, and one of the girls is named Mary. As night falls, the children go home, and the sorcerer arrives at Marjorie’s house to spend the night with...