Book I, Terra Nullius Summary

Jakob returns to Greece, missing Alex, and disoriented by tourists and traffic. Everything has changed in Athens, Zakynthos, where the old house is fittingly in ruins, and Idhra, where in the Roussos family home he writes this account. As Jakob looks through Athos's library, he recalls the broad education that he has received. He selects a small volume of Psalms to read himself to sleep and opens at random to a section about a worn-out, suffering man, torn hand and foot, but ultimately exalted by God.

Idhra opens Jakob's memory and he spends long nights writing and dealing with questions that have no answers. He notes that Jews live in an eternal present, always identifying with those who leave Egypt. They are responsible for time and must make moral decisions that have effect beyond this life. Jakob...