Chapter XXI: Fast and Thick is the 21th chapter of The Testaments. It contains section 59 with Aunt Lydia as narrator.
Synopsis[]
The Eyes and Angels suspect a traitor, Aunt Victoria's character is questioned, and Commander Judd decrees that he wishes to marry Nicole, complicating Aunt Lydia's plan.
Plot[]
Section 59[]
Aunt Lydia describes a series of troubling visits. First, Aunt Vidala objects sending Agnes and Becka on their Pearl Girls missionary work. She knows that Agnes got unlawful access to her own Bloodlines file and worries that the knowledge about her mother may weaken her resistance to dangerous ideas.
Next is Aunt Helena, who also wants to report that Agnes has been reading her own Bloodlines file. Aunt Lydia suggests that Aunt Vidala might have given Agnes the file, and before sending her away, she asks Aunt Helena to keep tabs on Aunt Vidala’s movements.
Later, Aunt Elizabeth approaches to inform Aunt Lydia that Eyes and Angels raided Ardua Hall’s print shop and confiscated the Pearl Girl brochures.
Aunt Lydia visits Commander Judd, who explains that someone in Ardua Hall has been communicating with Mayday operatives via microdots attached to the brochures. He raided the print shop hoping to secure evidence. Aunt Lydia defends the innocence of the Aunt who worked in the print shop, but she mentions her recent doubts about Aunt Vidala. With no concrete evidence from the raid and other governmental officials questioning his effectiveness, Judd wants Lydia to produce Nicole as soon as possible to reinforce his control over the council. Furthermore, he wants to announce that he will be marrying Nicole, so Lydia needs to quickly get rid of his current wife, Shunammite.
Notable Quotes[]
“Quote here” — Context here[1]
Trivia[]
(e.g. observations, cross-references, 'useless knowledge')
Notes[]
(e.g. contextual implications)
References[]
- Initial plot summary taken from: The Testaments on Bibliofile.com. A review by Jennifer Marie