Summary

In Chapter 9, back in the present timeline, Ben awoke in the motel in Quincy. He telephoned his daughter Renee and told her about the car accident and about what happened to his dogs. He said he wanted to continue with his hunting trip.

Ben went back to the vet’s office and asked the receptionist if it would be okay for him to collect Rex later that day. The receptionist agreed and Ben walked alone to a bus stop. He met a woman who made painted ceramic figurines and he spoke with her while he waited for his bus to arrive.

Ben got on the bus, which was very crowded. The bus travelled through the region where Ben had grown up. Ben began a conversation with a young woman sitting near him named Catherine Donnelly who was studying Goethe at college. She told Ben...