Part 2, Chapter 2 Summary

Odetta's psychotic break and creation of Detta is explained in detail. After begin pushed off the subway platform, Odetta's legs are cut off. As she is rushed to the hospital, she splits into two personalities. On the one hand, she is cultured Odetta Holmes with polite manners and a calm voice. On the other hand, she is Detta Walker, an angry black woman who speaks in curses and has a strong hatred of all white people. Detta has a compulsion to steal, though she has no real reason to. The two sides of her personality form directly after the accident, to the great confusion of the attending medical student who tries to save her.

Eddie invades Detta's mind just as she is stealing some jewelry. The shock of it scares her and she screams. This attracts the attention of the security...