Chapter 86: Sanctuary
Ana and her aunt, Yaltha, arrive under the cover of night at the Therapeutae community on Lake Mareotis, desperately seeking refuge. The community, as Yaltha explains, is divided into "juniors" who handle labor and "seniors" dedicated to spiritual pursuits. They are brought before Skepsis, the community's leader, an old woman with sharp, discerning eyes. Yaltha recounts their flight from Haran and Ana’s theft of the papyri.
Skepsis listens intently, noting that desperation alone isn't enough for acceptance into their contemplative order. While Yaltha admits her motives aren't spiritual, Ana surprises everyone, including herself, by declaring her desire for a quiet life of study and writing, and to "keep the memory of Sophia alive." This resonates deeply with the Therapeutae's core values. Intrigued, Skepsis asks to see the incantation bowl Ana carries. After reading Ana's prayer to Sophia inscribed within, Skepsis is convinced of her sincerity. She grants them refuge on one condition: Ana must compose and perform a new hymn to Sophia at their next all-night vigil, forty-six days away. Though terrified, Ana is captivated by the challenge, which speaks directly to The Search for Self and Personal Longing that has defined her life.
Chapter 87: The Spy and the Patron
Ana's first weeks at the Therapeutae are dreamlike as she immerses herself in the scholarly and spiritual life she has always craved. To ground her, Skepsis assigns her to work in the animal shed, where the earthy reality of manure and mating animals brings her back to earth. Her thoughts often drift to Jesus, imagining his daily life and teachings. After five and a half weeks, while fetching water, Ana overhears two of Haran's men speaking with Lucian, a senior member of the community. She realizes that Haran has found them, his militia guards the road, and Lucian is Haran's spy.
A few days later, Skepsis and Yaltha find Ana with a letter from Haran. He formally requests the return of his sister and niece, subtly threatening to withdraw his financial patronage if they refuse. Without hesitation, Skepsis informs him that she has already refused his request. She accepts the hardship that will follow but stands firm in her decision to protect them. This courageous act deeply moves Ana and solidifies her resolve: "I would write the song."
Chapter 88: The Healer and the Librarian
Skepsis sends Ana to the community’s library for inspiration, but she finds it in disarray, as the elderly librarian, Theano, is too ill to manage it. Ana instinctively begins to organize the scrolls, creating order from chaos and discovering works of Jewish philosophy, Greek poetry, and Stoic texts. As she works, her cousin, Diodora, arrives. Skepsis reveals she summoned Diodora from Isis Medica, not only for a reunion with Yaltha but also to invite her to stay as the community's healer.
Skepsis demonstrates her expansive view of faith, telling Diodora, a devotee of Isis, "We will teach you about our God and you will teach us about yours, and together we’ll find the God that exists behind them." This embodies the theme of Alternative Faith and Spirituality. The reunion between Yaltha and Diodora is profoundly moving. When Yaltha sees her daughter, she pulls both Diodora and Ana close and, looking at Skepsis, declares, "My daughters." The three women have formed a new family, finding solace and belonging in their shared sanctuary.
Chapter 89: The Threat and the Spark
Ana and Diodora climb the cliffs behind the community and are met with a breathtaking view of the sea. Ana feels a surge of happiness, immediately followed by guilt for feeling joy while separated from Jesus. As they talk, Diodora speaks of her devotion to Isis, stating, "I carry her inside me. She is everything." These words strike Ana with the force of revelation, providing the creative spark for the hymn she must write.
On their descent, they are intercepted by Lucian, Haran's spy. With veiled threats disguised as concern for their safety, he suggests they walk along the road by the lake—a clear attempt to lure them into the hands of Haran's waiting militia. The encounter makes the danger palpable. Diodora astutely observes that their problem is not just whether Yaltha will choose to leave, but "whether any of us will be able to leave at all." Shaken but newly inspired, Ana rushes to the holy room, her heart burning with the words of the hymn she is now ready to write.
Chapter 90: Thunder: Perfect Mind
The forty-ninth-day vigil begins with a feast. Lucian publicly challenges Skepsis for allowing Yaltha, a junior, to recline with the seniors, but Skepsis calmly rebukes him for his lack of kindness. After the meal, the community gathers for the all-night vigil of singing and prayer. Skepsis calls upon Ana to perform her hymn. Ana steps forward and announces its title: "Thunder: Perfect Mind." As a timbrel keeps a steady beat, she begins to chant the powerful, paradoxical verses she has written.
I am the first and the last I am she who is honored and she who is mocked I am the whore and the holy woman I am the wife and the virgin I am the mother and the daughter
The hymn is a radical assertion of the divine feminine, embracing all contradictions and aspects of womanhood. It is the ultimate expression of Feminism and Women's Voices. When she finishes, the room is silent, then one by one, the members of the community rise to their feet in a standing tribute. Skepsis explains the gesture to a stunned Ana: "They are telling you that you are Sophia’s daughter. They are telling you she is well pleased." The rest of the night is a blur of ecstatic singing and dancing, culminating with the community turning to face the dawn, the symbolic light of God.
Character Development
The characters undergo significant changes as they find refuge and purpose within the Therapeutae community.
- Ana: Transforms from a fugitive into a confident spiritual leader, claiming her voice and theological vision by writing "Thunder: Perfect Mind."
- Skepsis: Is revealed as a wise and courageous leader, both spiritually insightful and politically savvy.
- Yaltha: Finds peace and purpose with the arrival of Diodora, forming a new family unit with her daughter and niece.
- Diodora: Finds a new path where her healing skills and devotion to Isis are respected.
- Lucian: Is solidified as the antagonist, representing jealousy, betrayal, and patriarchal rigidity.
Themes & Symbols
The themes of feminism, self-discovery, and alternative spirituality converge within the sanctuary of the Therapeutae.
- Feminism and Women's Voices: Culminates in the performance of "Thunder: Perfect Mind," a manifesto of the divine feminine.
- The Search for Self and Personal Longing: The Therapeutae community embodies everything Ana has longed for, where her desires are a sacred calling.
- Alternative Faith and Spirituality: Skepsis's inclusive theology contrasts with the rigid religious structures Ana has fled.
The library and the hymn "Thunder: Perfect Mind" also hold symbolic significance. The disordered library symbolizes the lost stories of women, while the hymn represents wholeness and the divine feminine's ability to encompass all contradictions.
Key Quotes
I am the first and the last I am she who is honored and she who is mocked I am the whore and the holy woman I am the wife and the virgin I am the mother and the daughter
This excerpt from "Thunder: Perfect Mind" encapsulates the hymn's central theme: the embracing of all aspects of womanhood, even those deemed contradictory by patriarchal society. It is a powerful assertion of female divinity and a challenge to traditional religious norms.
Significance
This section marks the climax of Ana’s spiritual journey and the novel's central feminist argument. Ana finds a community where her intellectual and spiritual gifts are celebrated, and the performance of "Thunder: Perfect Mind" is not just a personal triumph but a theological statement that places female divinity at the center of worship. The arrival of Diodora and the defiance of Haran establish the Therapeutae as a true sanctuary, a matriarchal haven standing against the patriarchal forces seeking to control and silence its women.