Summary

In pages 145 - 202, the next morning after all their chores are finished, the women return to the loft. They talk about their dreams. Recalling his conversation with Ona on the roof, August wonders if it was a dream. The women argue about the difference between dreams, heaven, and the imagination. They grow quiet, and August notes their change in demeanor.

They remind each other about their three reasons for leaving: their manifesto. The conversation turns again to what they should do about the teenage boys, if they should stay in or leave the colony. Salome is particularly worried about her son, Aaron. They discuss the varying degrees of sadness their departure will create, telling Salome she may have to leave her son. August uses a Michelangelo picture as an example of entering the unknown, embarking on a work without knowing exactly what it...