despair

In this chapter, John Candotti and Brother Edward search for Emilio Sandoz, who has gone missing and is found on the beach, engaging in a self-destructive act of throwing stones into the sea. The chapter explores themes of despair, responsibility, and the psychological toll of past traumas as Sandoz grapples with his inner turmoil, culminating in a tense confrontation with Father General Vincenzo Giuliani, who manipulates the situation to provoke Sandoz further.