Summary

In Chapter 21, The Ninth Part of the Nun’s Tale, Michelangelo and the children worry about the possibility of being martyred the next day.

During the night, Michelangelo wakes the children and they leave the palace. As they walk, Jeanne says she wants to save the books, but does not want to die to do it. Michelangelo says he does not plan for the children to die, but sometimes it is unavoidable. He outlines a plan to save the books while he distracts the crowd. He tells them to take the books to Mont-Saint-Michel.

At the book burning Michelangelo’s eyes look like fire in the light. Jacob suggests they pray and William asks if it should be a Christian prayer or a Jewish prayer. Jacob says it does not matter.

Several carts are wheeled to the site. Jeanne and Jacob see old...