Stenfalk is surrounded by “at least thirty men in the brown dusters of the Detectives,” but he is not tied up and is instead, standing tall and talking to a few men. S. wonders if Stenfalk will betray them like Judas, but decides this is very unlikely. Judas was the Apostle who betrayed Jesus and turned him into the Jewish authorities for money.
Corbeau decides Stenfalk is stalling and that he is sacrificing himself so the rest of the group can escape. Stenfalk also leaves his pistol on Corbeau’s bag, reinforcin
g his knowledge of the possibility of sacrifice. As S. looks about the cave, he realizes Ostrero is missing.
The evolution of Jen and Eric’s relationship is evident on this page. In response to the line “He has nothing but himself,” high school Eric comments words of wisdom.
The initial comment Jen makes is …If you’re a mopy, self-dramatizing boy, yes.
After Eric responds that that was harsh because he was 16, future Jen apologizes saying It was harsh… sorry – I didn’t know what you were going through then. This shows how Jen was once snappy and judgmental, but has come to realize the truth behind Eric’s past and understands why he initially commented on the line.
Eric also theorizes that Desjardins was trying to give him a head start by giving him his research and not his own students. When Jen questions this claim, Eric responds by saying there is no chance of working with Moody, but also that he’s sincere.
I don’t say anything I don’t mean.
You do have a gift for leaving things out, though.
And you’re no different.
This exchange also opens the question of the reliability of the marginalia. Withholding information can almost be just as dangerous as lying, because you cannot get the full picture. Also you do not know if Jen and Eric are filtering themselves
at points because of their paranoia. It is also unclear what is discussed during their meetings outside of the book.