Chapter 12 Summary

Sophia is Wisdom rather than a slaying/healing deity. She grows angry when she sees Phil, who is trying to kill himself. She dismisses all idea of Fat, whom she has destroyed to make Phil whole. Under questioning about her nature, Sophia says, "I am that which I am" or remains silent. Linda explains that some questions are meaningless. At dinner, free from the Lamptons, Phil grieves over the loss of Fat. Kevin and David commiserate before discussing the Lamptons' sanity and whether they should return immediately to Santa Ana. They decide to stay another day. When they meet, alone with Sophia, she refuses to be interrogated about Eric and Linda, whom she declares to be ill but harmless, because she overrides them.

Sophia begins explaining: she has provided their society its motto and will now give them the message that they must...