p. 156

Immediately on this page, S and his group notice how close the trackers are getting. The group of trackers, all men on horses, have gained ground and are much closer than expected. It’s clear that this is alarming to S and his cohorts, and as the text describes the trackers, “They move as one, and from above, they resemble a single terrible, brown-backed predator stalking its next meal,” (156). It is clear that they have no time to rest, and the group continues on. As they continue, they notice that the “tarn” they had viewed from further away was a black series of blasted holes in the earth.

Between Jen and Eric, it is clear that mysterious and scary things have been occurring. Jen starts out by telling Eric about and unidentified older man sitting with Ilsa in one of her lectures. She was clearly convinced that Ilsa pointed her out to him, and that the old man was watching her. Eric responds by saying, RELAX. Probably just another prof. sitting in. And they might’ve just been looking in your general direction. Think about it: no one who’s really dangerous is going to go to Ffoulkes’ lecture + sit there in front of everybody. Jen’s paranoia is quite clear when she responds, I know you’re probably right. But everything’s freaking me out right now. This theme of mysterious activities and unknown strangers continues and escalates throughout the text.