Chapter 23 Summary

Severo returns to Ciudad late that night, and he learns that a visitor is waiting up for him. A man dressed in a monastic habit with a face the texture of raw dough greets Severo. It is Fra Damaso Murta, a special inquisitor whose power supersedes Severo's.

Palinor hesitates, when Beneditx suggests they reverse their style of arguing. Palinor says he is not there to prostheletize, especially on a theological island. With some reluctance, Palinor proceeds. Palinor says that attributing everything to God is not a valid explanation. Just saying God explains everything is useless, because it explains too much.

Beneditx is moved to tears as he passionately replies to Palinor's questioning of the great mysteries of the Christian faith, such as why God allowed sin to enter the world and then punished people for it. We cannot know these answers, Beneditx says...