Chapters 13 and 14 Summary

"Journey in Hope"

In spite of a series of setbacks (including bad weather and mechanical difficulties), and struggling with increasing loneliness (see "Quotes," p. 144), William's search for Josella is not entirely fruitless; he rescues a little girl named Susan, whose parents had been blinded and whose little brother had been killed by a triffid. Susan confesses to having been as lonely as William, but also admits to being as glad as he is that they've found each other and their loneliness is at an end. Together they continue the search for Josella: arriving in Sussex, acquiring a powerful searchlight, shining it into the night, and eventually seeing an answering light. Impatiently, William drives down a string of confusing country side roads that seem, at times, to be leading him away from his destination, but eventually (and helped by Susan) he draws...