“Their history, mine, yours… A story of… choices.”

The governor justifies their decision to destroy the petroglyphs of The Territory by explaining that there was no proof that they had been carved by Vévoda’s ancestors and that it was a fact that the tribe had chosen to believe. He adds that the history of an individual is a story of choices. He attempts the justify Vévoda’s actions by making him out to be a person who “helps reshape the their world in dynamic ways.” He adds that Vévoda’s creation “is as profound as, and more real than, shapes on hillsides… or colors on canvas… or scribblings on paper–” S. tells him to be quiet, and realizes that administering death would be as simple as drawing the S-shaped symbol into him.

Is Vévoda the key to S. finding himself? The governor portrays him in a way that would make S. think so. Of course, this is an uncomfortable reality for S., but because his choices up until now have kept him from fulfillment, must he look to Vévoda for the inspiration that would bring about his enlightenment?

In the third round of notes, Eric tells Jen about Moody’s response to his note:

He’s apologetic, but in a general way. Def. not accepting any particular blame. He says he wants to give me credit in the book for finding the Summersby tap. He says I was an important part of “the team” + I deserve recognition. Only condition-+ he tries to be subtle about it-is that I have to give him legal consent to use it. Said it’s even better for “the project” that the shimizu paper came out-that it’s laughable compared to the confession (“and you must already know that, because if you don’t, I have utterly failed you as a teacher”).

Clearly, Moody is attempting to milk everything out of Eric that he can, but at the same time it seems as though he is also giving Eric a lifeline. What should Eric do?