Island

As the chapter opens, Susila remembers her husband Dugald, who has recently died. Susila makes her way to her father-in-law Dr. Robert’s home and meets Will for the first time. Dr. Robert and Susila discuss Will’s condition. Dr. Robert says that earlier that day he visited with his ailing wife, Lakshmi. She is terminally ill, but he says that her condition does not seem as bad as it had been. Susila makes her way into Will’s room and introduces herself. They have a lengthy conversation, and Susila hypnotizes Will. Hypnosis is a form of therapy in Pala, as it turns the patient’s focus away from their immediate physical pain.

Dr. Robert and his ill wife Lakshmi have a discussion. Dr. Robert mentions how lucky he is to have had Lakshmi in his life, for the way she taught him to live in the present moment and the real world. As an educated man, Dr. Robert was always studying and learning; he credits Lakshmi with bringing him out of his studies when necessary. For her part, Lakshmi is a free-spirit—she likens herself to a flea hopping from one place to the next.

Dr. Robert leaves his wife, checks on Will, and gives him a book called, Notes on What’s What, and on What It Might be Reasonable to Do about What’s What, written by the Old Raja.