Chapter 9, Death Summary

As the two men set out one morning from a small village, Paulo is beset with a feeling of urgency coupled with tension and fear. Paulo tries to ignore the feelings, but Petrus demands that the pilgrim stop and confront the presence. Looking around the abandoned houses, Paulo sees the black dog he cast out of the old woman's house a few days earlier. Paulo locks eyes with the dog for several minutes before a nun crosses their path. Once the nun passes the dog lowers his eyes and runs away. Paulo is dizzy and believes that the nun gave him the strength to defeat the dog. Petrus allows Paulo to rest before they continue the journey.

While Paulo rests Petrus tells him that fear hurt him more than the dog. Petrus has known since the beginning of the journey that...