Book II, The Way Station Summary

In rainy Athens, Ben contemplates why rain is different everywhere, while snow is identical. Noami claims that foreign dusks are different. Watching people eat makes Ben think about literary characters who help others. He sees Petra toss her hair and leave the café on some man's arm. When the storm passes, Ben climbs into the mountains. Litter gradually gives way to wildflowers. In the darkness, Ben senses the presence of lovers, no longer young. The man laughs and Ben thinks of Petra. He recalls hearing on the boat from Idhra a witticism about how no firstborn is conceived in the fields, but its siblings are. Ben recalls Naomi saying at the time of their marriage that they must climb out of deep places together and he must look back if she cannot keep up. He...