Chapter 8 Summary

Anodos leaves the farmer's family and continues on his journey until he comes upon a small windowless hut in a clearing. Inside a woman is reading from a small book and she begins to read aloud as Anodos ignores a sense of foreboding and steps inside. Anodos advances into the room, but the woman pays little attention to him. He is focused on a door that he assumes leads to another room. As he reaches for the latch, the woman stops reading and warns him not to open the door.

Anodos ignores the woman's advice and opens the door on a dark room. As he watches, a figure comes running from the outer reaches of the darkness. Anodos steps back unable to shut the door because he feels the need to watch the figure as it speeds through the darkness and rushes past...