Part One

The first section of this novel has six chapters— one chapter focused on each of the five main characters, and then the sixth concerning their continuing relationship to one another. The first two chapters take place much earlier than the continuing action of the rest of the novel. The first chapter introduces John Singer, the deaf mute, and it is written in the vague, fable-like tone that all of the parts concerning Singer are told in. His relationship with another mute, Antonapoulos, is explained: they live together and spend their free time together, but after ten years Antonapoulos starts showing erratic behavior—stealing from the cousin he works for, exposing himself in public, etc. Singer spends all of his money trying to make restitution for his friend's crimes, but the cousin has Antonapoulos committed to the state insane asylum two hundred miles away. Singer moves into...