Part 9, In the Dark: Chapters 1-7 Summary

In chapter one, Pendergast uses his mental relaxation technique to walk through the house where he grew up. Pendergast goes to the subbasement where there were tombs holding his relatives. Pendergast remembers someone telling him his great-grand uncle spent a great deal of time here after the death of his mother. This causes Pendergast to realize Leng has one last collection somewhere in a subbasement similar to that one.

In chapter two, Pendergast releases himself from his chains and goes to Nora. Before Pendergast releases Nora, he forces her to promise that she will wait ten minutes and then go to check on Smithback. If Smithback is dead, she is to get out of the house any way she can, no matter what she hears or sees. Nora agrees.

In chapter three, the...