Book One, Chapter 8 Summary

Theo sets off to St Margaret's Church in Binsey to keep his word to Julian. His main reason for keeping his word is because he does not want them finding him and harassing him again. He wants to nip it in the bud.

As he moves into the countryside, he walks along dilapidated and overgrown paths, which no one is bothering to maintain anymore. More and more people are moving into the urban centers, craving company and the knowledge that power and services will be supplied there for as long as possible, as promised by Xan.

Theo has been to the church before, because he used to take his morning walks through Binsey. He is surprised to see the house next to the church is still lived in, although it is run down. Out of the house comes the...