Section 8 Summary

Pascali meets Marchant as arranged outside the Cafe Lykis, and Marchant asks Pascali to dinner. As they eat, they discuss the history of Greek tradition, and of the Muslim tradition of sheep sacrifice. Arriving at the church, they are allowed to the front of the congregation, and although fearful of his neighbors, Pascali is tempted to stand in front of them all and declare himself. The wax figure of the Saint is brought forward, and covered by a curtain, where priests prepare him for the reenactment of the Ascension. When the curtain is drawn back, the statue is standing, clothed in robes. Pascali has seen this many times, but hears the gasps from those who have not. However, on this day, something has gone wrong and to the horror of the congregation, the statue suddenly falls forward, striking the concrete and beheading its...