In the Utah desert, during his Lenten fast, seventeen-year-old novice Gerard Francis encounters a pilgrim heading towards Leibowitz Abbey. As Francis watches, the pilgrim overturns a rock, kills a snake, and takes shelter under the newly created ledge. While breaking bread, the pilgrim sings a prayer to Adonoi Elohim, unfamiliar to Francis. Notably, the pilgrim appears unaffected by the physical deformities common among desert dwellers. When Francis clears his throat, the pilgrim notices him and inquires about the abbey's location. Offering bread and cheese, the pilgrim is splashed with holy water by Francis, who fears the pilgrim may be a tempting demon. The pilgrim then points out a gap in Francis's stone shelter and provides a stone to complete the arch. Upon examining the stone, Francis discovers two symbols from the ancient Hebrew alphabet and a hidden cavity beneath it. Disturbed by his actions, Francis falls into a cavern after disturbing the stones. Inside the cavern, he encounters a sign reading "FALLOUT SHELTER," along with records of fifteen visitors and provisions. Fearful of the presence of "fallouts," terrifying creatures he has never encountered before, Francis realizes he may have stumbled upon the lair of fifteen evil beings.
Descending deeper into the shelter, Francis worries about the consequences of abandoning his vigil, as it would hinder his acceptance into the Albertian Order of Leibowitz. He reaches a door marked "INNER HATCH" that displays signs of disuse for centuries, likely predating the Flame Deluge and the Simplification, historical events referenced by Francis. Exploring further, he discovers a trove of documents, circuitry hardware, and a skull with a gold tooth. Taking a rusty box outside before
opening it, he finds rolls of small papers and tubes containing metal whiskers. Among them is a note addressed to someone named Carl, urging him to keep "Em" in the shelter until their war status is determined. Signed with the initials I.E.L., the box also contains a shopping list and various blueprints, sketches, and circuit diagrams. One blueprint bears the inscription "CIRCUIT DESIGN BY: Leibowitz, I.E." Realizing that these relics are associated with the founder of the Albertian Order, Leibowitz, Francis feels blessed and believes his discovery validates his calling as a monk. The sound of three bells from the abbey prompts him to hurry back and share his findings, without revealing that he left his vigil, risking the end of his monkhoodjourney. As he tries to sleep, he contemplates Leibowitz's lack of official sainthood. During the night, he awakens to the presence of a wolf near his fire, praying for the end of Lent while listening to its footsteps.
Father Cheroki visits Francis in the desert, and during confession, Francis reveals his temptation to accept the pilgrim's bread and cheese and his act of splashing him with holy water. Father Cheroki reassures him that no sin was committed as he did not consume the food nor derive pleasure from the temptation. Francis also confesses to having gluttonous thoughts, such as desiring to eat a lizard. Showing Father Cheroki the alleged Leibowitz papers, Francis's mental state raises concerns for the priest, who orders his return to the abbey. On his way back, Francis regrets not being able to show Father Cheroki the fallout shelter. He encounters Brother Fingo, a cheerful yet physically unattractive man, and shares his discovery of the artifacts and the cylinders from the box. Francis explains the existence of the fallout shelter to Fingo, who checks the entrance and affirms that he sees it as well. While journeying back to the abbey, Francis suddenly faints. Father Cheroki finds him on the road after conversing with Fingo, now considering that Francis may have misunderstood rather than hallucinated his previous experience.
Abbott Arkos and Father Cheroki discuss Gerard Francis's story and the contents of the box. Cheroki expresses concern about the old pilgrim
mentioned by Francis. Arkos reveals that there have been
previous instances where brothers claimed to have found Leibowitz's
relics. He worries that if all the documents are revealed at once,
it could create difficulties in supporting Leibowitz's
canonization. Arkos fears that presenting too many miracles
simultaneously might give the impression of an agenda pushing for
the canonization rather than allowing it to unfold naturally.
Arkos recognizes the Hebrew symbols on the stone, including the
letter "Lamedh," possibly standing for Leibowitz. Rumors about
Francis meeting Leibowitz in the desert spread throughout the
abbey, much to Arkos's frustration. Seeking to judge Francis's
sincerity, Arkos visits him again and demands that he deny the
story about the pilgrim. Francis refuses, resulting in him
receiving ten strikes on his bare buttocks as punishment. Arkos
orders Francis to complete his vigil in a new location and forbids
him from speaking about what happened. Throughout the
confrontation, Arkos repeatedly questions if Francis is certain
thatthe pilgrim was merely a man, leaving Francis confused as he
cannot definitively affirm that the pilgrim was only human. Arkos
dismisses Francis and sends him away.
Francis returns to the desert to resume his vigil, surprised by the
enthusiastic response to his story about the old man. Contemplating
his experience, he wonders if there was a supernatural element to
the encounter and questions whether he should have said something
different to Abbott Arkos. These thoughts consume him, causing him
to forget to pray. Francis is desperate to fulfill his vocation,
and he recalls a fable about a cat studying ornithology. The cat,
while naturally inclined to eat birds, develops a more refined
palate through formal study. Similarly, Francis's appetite for
knowledge grows as he learns more, finding satisfaction in the
experience of learning itself.
Uncertain about his path forward, Francis reflects on his past,
recalling being bought by a shaman as a child and escaping slavery
in Utah. Returning would mean certain death since he had stolen his
owner's property by running away. Seeking education and literacy in
an illiterate world, he sought refuge at the abbey. He ponders the
cat and
ornithologist fable, worrying that the cat never truly
transcended its nature as an ornithophage despite what it may have
believed.
With the end of Lent, Francis and the other novices return to the
abbey. Francis excitedly recounts his encounter with an angel in
the desert to those who clean him. Abbott Arkos summons him and
subjects him to another round of cross-examination, insisting that
the pilgrim was Leibowitz. Francis cannot deny it with absolute
certainty since he had never seen Leibowitz before encountering the
pilgrim. As a consequence, Arkos informs Francis that he will not
be allowed to take his vows this year, devastating the aspiring
monk.
Arkos imposes a prohibition on discussing the old man in the
desert, but rumors continue to circulate among the monks,
particularly as some of them begin working on the documents found
in the fallout shelter. However, Francis is forbidden from
assisting in the work and feels disheartened when he learns that
Arkos has closed off the shelter.
A new rumor emerges, speculating that Emily, Leibowitz's wife, had
a gold tooth, leading to speculation that her skull may be among
the relics found in the shelter. While it was believed that Emily
perished during the Flame Deluge, Leibowitz was thought to have
survived.
The narrativeshifts to describe the years following the Flame Deluge.
Esteemed academics, known as "princes," were instructed to create
deadly weapons during the Cold War between the United States and
the Soviet Union. Each prince was told that their enemies already
possessed such weapons, escalating the arms race. Instead of
deterring them with the concept of mutually assured destruction, it
fueled their greed. The first prince to strike would have the
opportunity to rule the world. The resulting Flame Deluge lasted
for weeks, decimating the majority of human life.
This period became known as the "Simplification," characterized by
the persecution and destruction of academics and scientists, who
were blamed for the war. These individuals, referred to as
"Simpletons" by the academics, turned their rage against scientific
inventions and texts. The
learned ones sought refuge in
monasteries, but the violence soon extended to target anyone who
could read. Isaac Edward Leibowitz sought sanctuary in the
Cistercian order of monks and, after twelve years, gained
permission from the Holy See to establish the Albert Magnus order
for men of science. Leibowitz's monks became "memorizers" and
"bookleggers," tasked with memorizing and smuggling books to
preserve knowledge.
Caught in a mob during a smuggling operation, Leibowitz was hanged
and burned alive. Francis's story takes place six centuries later,
in a time where the knowledge guarded by the Albertian monks is
fragmented and incomplete. They believe that someone will
eventually appear to reunite the knowledge and fill in the missing
pieces.
Returning to Francis's present, Arkos has confiscated the documents
and sealed them away. A year later, Francis completes another vigil
and reports to Arkos. However, as he still refuses to state with
absolute certainty that the old man was merely mortal, Arkos denies
him the opportunity to take his vows for another year.
Seven years have passed since his first vigil, and Francis remains
a novice. During his time in the desert, he has learned to imitate
the howling of wolves. A messenger arrives from New Rome, the
relocated Vatican after the destruction of Rome in the Flame
Deluge. The messenger informs Francis that further study has
validated the authenticity of some of the documents. Francis is
granted permission to speak and learns that the case for
Leibowitz's canonization will soon be reopened. The fallout shelter
will also be reopened for examination.
Days later, Abbott Arkos informs Francis that he is now allowed to
take his vows. Overwhelmed withexcitement, Francis faints and eventually takes his vows two
weeks later. He begins working as a copyist but is also given one
hour each day to pursue his own projects. Francis chooses to use
this time to copy the Leibowitz blueprint, which fascinates him.
However, lacking the scientific tools and understanding, he
struggles to interpret the technical language and mentions of
"electrons" within the blueprint. Francis realizes that the
blueprint represents an abstract
concept rather than a tangible
object and decides to reverse the color scheme, creating an
illuminated copy with dark lines on a white background, reminiscent
of lavishly produced medieval tomes.
Arkos questions Francis about the illuminated blueprint and
expresses curiosity about its deviation from a traditional
blueprint. Francis explains his intention to create a beautiful
illumination but faints once again under Arkos's scrutiny.
After eleven years, Francis continues his work in peace, mostly
spending time with Fingo as the latter carves a wooden statue of
Leibowitz. As the statue progresses, Francis recognizes that Fingo
used his sketches of the pilgrim's face as a reference.
Following the death of Horner, Brother Jeris takes over as the copy
room master. Jeris instructs Francis to abandon the illumination
project and instead make lampshades. Francis agrees, reminding
himself to be patient and wait for the opportunity to resume the
illumination once Jeris is no longer in charge.
During that summer, Monsignor Malfreddo Aguerra arrives as the
postulator for Leibowitz's potential canonization. Aguerra will
reopen the shelter and study the relics. Abbott Arkos warns Francis
to be cautious when interacting with Aguerra. However, Francis
finds Aguerra to be relaxing, genuinely interested in him, and
well-mannered.
Aguerra asks Francis to recount the story of his first vigil.
Afterward, he presents Francis with a scroll that supposedly
contains an accurate account compiled by other monks of Francis's
encounter with the old pilgrim. The account includes many
embellishments, such as a carpet of roses spreading wherever the
pilgrim walked. Francis reiterates the simple truth of his
experience and refutes the added details. Impressed by Francis's
work on the illumination, Aguerra orders him to continue the
project, overriding Jeris's previous instruction.
Monsignor Flaught, visiting from New Rome, plays the role of
devil's advocate, opposing Leibowitz's canonization. He subjects
Francis to rigorous cross-examination. Francis responds similarly
to how he had answered Arkos's previous questions, stating that he
cannot definitively affirm that the old pilgrim was merely a mortal
man.
Flaught requeststo see the illuminated blueprint before leaving for New Rome.
Years later, on the Feast of the Five Fools, a messenger from the
Vatican announces that Flaught no longer objects to the
canonization. The Pope endorses the canonization, set to take place
the following year. Arkos informs Francis that he is invited to New
Rome, along with the Leibowitz blueprint and his illuminated
copy.
The journey to New Rome will take three months by donkey. Along the
way, Francis wears an eye patch in hopes of intimidating peasants
who may perceive him as having the evil eye. After two months, he
encounters a robber in the Valley of the Misborn. The Misborn are
individuals with mutations caused by the Flame Deluge and its
aftermath. According to church doctrine, the Misborn are considered
equals and are sometimes referred to as the "Pope's children."
The robber is accompanied by two Misborn. When Francis mentions
that he has spent 15 years working on the illumination, the robber
laughs and refuses to return it. He challenges Francis to a
wrestling match, with the winner keeping the blueprint. Francis
loses the match, and the robber claims the illuminated copy,
recognizing its beauty and believing it to be the more valuable and
original version. The robber offers to return it if Francis can
bring back two "heklos" of gold.
Following the canonization ceremony, Francis visits the Pope. The Pope is impressed by the illuminated copy and gives Francis two heklos of gold to retrieve the stolen blueprint. Returning to the designated spot, Francis waits, but he notices the robber's companions lying in ambush. Suddenly, one of them shoots an arrow that kills Francis. However, a figure approaches from the horizon - it is the old pilgrim. The story jumps
forward to the year 3174.
600 years later in the territory of
Texarkana, specifically in a courtroom where Hannegan II serves as
the mayor. Marcus Apollo, the Pope's ambassador, attends a party in
the courtroom and realizes that war is imminent with the nomadic
clans living on the Plains. Apollo suspects that the courier,
Sarkal, did not actually deliver the message from the warlord Mad
Bear since the latter would not have left an enemy alive.
Apollo engages in conversations with Brother Claret and scholar
Thon Taddeo about the Leibowitz documents. Taddeo expresses
interest in examining the documents but prefersthe monks to bring them to him instead of risking his own
safety. They agree to discuss the matter further later that night.
Apollo is aware of Taddeo's relation to Hannegan and treats him
with respect. Apollo suggests that Claret should visit the Vatican
to discuss Hannegan's war plans disguised as a unification
effort.
Later, Taddeo visits Apollo's study. Taddeo believes that the
documents are not widely believed in but thinks an investigation is
necessary. Taddeo, being a renowned scholar and genius, speculates
that the documents could be from science textbooks and wishes to
judge their authenticity himself. He presents an example of a
peasant outside and questions whether it is plausible that the
peasant's ancestors were intelligent enough to design aircraft.
Taddeo believes it is important to question all of history and
regards skepticism as a necessary rigor.
Dom Paulo, the new abbot at Leibowitz Abbey, reexamines a letter from Marcus Apollo but struggles to decipher its true meaning. The letter, which announces Taddeo's upcoming visit to the abbey, seems to contain a warning, albeit in coded language. Paulo recalls Taddeo's background and his connection to Hannegan. Taddeo's father was Hannegan's uncle, and his mother served as a servant. Taddeo was sent
to a monastery to avoid embarrassing his father's wife.
Having grown up within sight of the palace, Taddeo developed
bitterness and hatred toward the prince. He became skeptical of
religion and dedicated himself to science.
Paulo discusses the situation with Father Gault, who is likely to
succeed him as abbot. They observe smoke on the horizon and wonder
if the "old Jew," Benjamin Eleazar, is still alive. Benjamin is
referred to as such because of his Jewish heritage. Paulo expresses
skepticism about Brother Kornhoer's experiment involving a
"contraption" known as a "generator of electric essences."
Paulo pays a visit to the Poet, instructing him to clean and vacate
his quarters as they will be used by Taddeo. The Poet possesses a
mutated goat with a blue head, a gift from Benjamin Eleazar after
losing a game of mumbly-peg. Benjamin claims that the goat's milk
is responsible for his long lifespan.
Dom Paulo contemplates the current state of humanity, believing
that it is experiencing another Dark Age. The stigma surrounding
learning has diminished, and Paulo reflects on the impermanence of
knowledge. He ponders the idea that any culture created by humans
can be destroyed and forgotten.
Kornhoer shows Paulo a lamp hehas been working on in the abbey's basement. The lamp requires a
dynamo that Kornhoer has invented. Paulo questions why previous
generations of monks were unable to recreate the dynamo based on
the documents left by Leibowitz. Kornhoer explains that such
discoveries require deduction and that scholars like Taddeo are
necessary. Taddeo's recent work has provided Kornhoer with valuable
theorems to enhance his own research.
Paulo instructs Armbruster, the librarian, to remove the crucifix
from the alcove where Taddeo will study and replace it with the
lamp. Armbruster is appalled by the apparent prioritization of
science over religion but reluctantly agrees to the request.
The following day, Paulo experiences severe cramping. To distract himself, he observes the centuries-old wooden statue of Saint Leibowitz. Gault enters the room and finds Paulo unconscious, with blood between his teeth. Gault attributes the incident to Kornhoer's functioning lamp. Paulo resolves not to reveal his sickness, as he does not want others to anticipate his death as an opportunity for personal advancement.
In a nomad camp on the Plains, Hongan Os(known as Mad Bear)
disciplines some of his warriors by flogging them. Mad Bear
disapproves of his men using horses to tear apart their captives,
considering it undignified for the horses.
Mad Bear's men feel uneasy because he shook hands with a messenger
from Texarkana. Mad Bear receives gifts from Hannegan, but he tells
his clan that the gifts are plunder from raids. In return, Mad Bear
has agreed to stop stealing cattle from the eastern border.
Mad Bear encounters 12 visitors, one of whom is Taddeo. Mad Bear
drinks a cup of blood, and Taddeo requests men to accompany them on
their journey. Taddeo explains that they are in search of the
sorcery skills possessed by the dark-robed monks.
The hermit Benjamin observes someone approaching his mesa. It turns
out to be Paulo, who has brought back the goat that the Poet won
fairly in a game. Paulo mentions that novices have reported
Benjamin throwing stones at them during their desert vigils.
Benjamin does not deny it and reveals that one of the novices
mistook him for Leibowitz. He claims to have told men in New Rome,
centuries ago, where to dig for Francis's body, and he believes the
Poet believes him.
Paulo and Benjamin ascend to Benjamin's shack, where they engage in
conversation. Benjamin asserts that he has lived for 32 centuries
and believes he is the lastJew. They discuss the lamp and advancements in electricity.
Paulo expresses concern that secular scholars might render the
monks' efforts in book preservation and smuggling obsolete.
Benjamin asks Paulo to bring Taddeo to the mesa, but Paulo refuses and departs.
A messenger from New Rome arrives, bearing news of an impending war with Laredo. Paulo learns that Hannegan has arrested Marcus Apollo and intends to unify the territories by infecting Laredan cattle with disease, leading to famine. Paulo contemplates whether they will be able to protect their books if Hannegan's forces sweep across the land and demand entry. Soon, a group of 30 men arrives for a parley, some of whom are nomads. These men serve as guides for Taddeo. Taddeo meets with Paulo before entering the abbey.
In the abbey's dining hall, a monk reads from a sacred text, an
alternative version of the Book of Job that chronicles a
conversation between God and Satan. The text ends with Leibowitz
pleading for the Lord's forgiveness.
The monks demonstrate the dynamo and the lamp to Taddeo. When the
dynamo successfully operates, Taddeo reacts with surprise and
demands to know why the monks had hidden such a machine. He is
frustrated by the perceived wasted time spent on theories of
electricity when the monks already possessed a working model.
Taddeo apologizes for his initial reaction to the lamp and expresses his discomfort with the fact that four monks have to pedal the device to keep it running. He suggests removing the lamp, but Paulo refuses to do so. Taddeo spends several days studying in the library while his men sketch the abbey's fortifications. He becomes excited by a mathematical document but expresses dissatisfaction with Kornhoer being confined to a monastery.
A banquet is held in honor of Taddeo's visit, where the monks are allowed to eat meat and engage in conversation. During the banquet, the Poet sneaks into the dining hall and sits at the same table as Taddeo and Arkos. The Poet openly displays hostility towards Taddeo and disrupts the solemn atmosphere with jokes about bedbugs. He removes his glass eye and leaves the table. Paulo informs Taddeo that his men were studying the abbey as a potential fortress, shocking him. Taddeo composes himself and begins lecturing in the hall, but Paulo realizes that Taddeo is annoyed because he believed he had made new discoveries, only to find out that theywere rediscoveries. Taddeo hints that the documents should not remain in such an inaccessible place and mentions other scientific projects being pursued by different scientists. Benjamin enters the hall, and Taddeo becomes pale. Benjamin touches Taddeo's arm, states that "It's still not him," and departs.
After ten weeks, war breaks out between Laredo and Texarcana. The conflict is short-lived, and Hannegan gains control over the region from Red River to Rio Grande. He executes Marcus Apollo for treason by hanging and flaying him. Taddeo offers to leave because of his nationality, fearing that he cannot maintain impartiality and that his presence will cause the Abbey to lose its reputation. The mayor of a nearby village requests sanctuary in the abbey for the peasants, and Paulo agrees, except for men capable of bearing arms. Miller briefly recounts the various conflicts and skirmishes involving the nomads in the region. The Poet disappears, and Taddeo plans to depart within a few days. Before leaving, he informs Paulo that he cannot fight against Hannegan because he supports Taddeo's work.
Taddeo expresses his desire for Kornhoer to accompany him and secure a scholarship at the collegium. Gault informs Paulo that Brother Claret has returned from New Rome with a document. When Paulo visits Claret, he finds him suffering from a fatal wound. The document reveals that Hannegan considers the Pope a heretic and intends to rule the Church himself. Taddeo and Gault engage in a discussion about the book of Genesis. While Gault and other monks view Genesis as allegorical,
Taddeo proposes a theory based on a fragment found in the library. He suggests that "man was not created until shortly before the fall of the last civilization," implying that humans are 1,200 years old. According to Taddeo's theory, modern-day humanity is a "servant species" descended from Adam's progeny, which could explain why they have fallen far short of their prior advanced state. Paulo strongly disagrees with this theory and, upon examining the fragment, interprets it as part of a play intended as an allegory. Kornhoer presents Paulo with the crucifix, and Paulo assures Taddeo that all scholars will always be welcome at the abbey. Taddeo gives Paulo the sketches of the abbey and encourages him to burn them.
The Poet finds himself in the aftermath of a fight, having been shot with a musket. He had intervened during a skirmish between refugees and cavalry,stabbing a cavalry officer. Later, when only the Poet and the officer remain, the officer attempts to shoot the Poet. The Poet manages to take the officer's pistol and stabs him in the throat. The Poet dies, and his body is eaten by buzzards. Generations pass, and as the "generations of light" emerge, the year is now 3781.
Spaceships manned by a new race are present once again. The narrative format switches to a script, resembling a scene and dialogue for a play or screenplay. The script depicts reporters interrogating a defense minister about heightened radiation levels on the West Coast, potentially indicating a nuclear bomb detonation. The defense minister refuses to speculate on the matter. Dom Jethrah Zerchi, the current abbot of Leibowitz Abbey, attempts to compose a message using a machine called Autoscribe but encounters a malfunction. He writes a letter to Cardinal Hoffstraff, discussing a covert arms race involving nuclear weapons. In the letter, he employs the phrase "Quo peregrinator grex, pastor secum," meaning "Where the flock wanders, the pastor goes too." He contacts Brother Joshua, who becomes fearful upon
hearing about Quo peregrinator. After the call, Joshua observes Mrs. Grales, a woman with a mutation resulting in an extra head, and ponders where a bomb may have detonated. He purposely avoids Mrs. Grales on his way to the Abbey.
Another reporter questions the defense minister, probing him about a disaster in the city of Itu Wan. The defense minister explains that it was a test that got out of control. The reporter inquires about his "abiding faith in 'Motherhood.'" Zerchi observes their conversation and subsequently discusses the matter with Joshua. Zerchi contemplates whether the cycles of cataclysm will perpetually repeat. He then reveals the information about Quo peregrinator to Joshua, explaining that it involves sending priests to Alpha Centauri to ensure the Church's existence on other planets. The Abbey possesses a ship and crew for this purpose, and if they embark on the journey, they will not return. Joshua is given three days to decide whether he will join the mission. They encounter Mrs. Grales, who requests baptism for her superfluous, catatonic head. Zerchi informs her that her parish priest will perform the ceremony, and Joshua believes he sees Rachel, Mrs. Grales' healthy head, smile. At the Abbey, Father Lehy proclaims "LUCIFER IS FALLEN," and they receive instructions that only madmen wouldcreate another nuclear holocaust given the knowledge they possess. Zerchi notices an old beggar in the audience who asks to be called Lazarus.
Zerchi and Joshua listen to the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire declared by the World Court of Nations. Zerchi contemplates the statue of Leibowitz standing on a pyre, recognizing that they are all standing in that position now. A robot delivers a message to Zerchi with the phrase "The flock becomes a wanderer." He asks Joshua to inform him of his decision regarding the space mission. Joshua reflects on his options but ultimately agrees to join. He is willing to serve as their abbot if they desire it. Zerchi addresses the departing crew and watches their plane depart. He acknowledges that he did not reveal everything that awaits them and understands that those left behind have an easier task.
Zerchi and Doctor Cors listen to the news on the radio. Nine days after the destruction of the capital, the death toll reaches nearly three million, but the fallout area is stabilizing. The government explicitly prohibits private citizens from performing euthanasia for individuals affected by radiation poisoning. Such assisted suicides must take place at Green Star Relief Stations or Mercy Camps. Zerchi permits Doctor Cors to establish a Mercy Camp in the courtyard, with the condition that he does not encourage suicide. After their conversation, Zerchi reads a letter regarding Joshua's departure. The starship has not yet left space, and news of Quo peregrinatur has been leaked, leaving uncertainty about whether they will successfully depart Earth's orbit. Green Star sets up a camp two miles away from the Abbey. Zerchi reads a book of verse by a mythical saint called Saint Poet of the Miraculous Eyeball, consisting of a satirical dialogue between two agnostics. He observes the Green Star camp through binoculars and notices pottery being unloaded, realizing that the urns will be used for human remains. He also sees a large furnace, which alarms him. When Zerchi protests, Doctor Cors refuses to relocate it. Zerchi instructs Patrick to assemble five men to create signs.
While praying that night, Zerchi is approached by Cors, who confesses to breaking his promise. Cors admits that he advised a suffering woman and her child to consider euthanasia while visiting them. He agrees to leave the Abbey. Zerchi visits the woman, finding her lying on a cot with the red card givento her by Cors. He offers her a rosary and advises her not to be an accomplice to a crime. The following day, Zerchi encounters Mrs. Grales, who requests confession. He agrees and arranges to meet her at the chapel in 30 minutes. On his way to the chapel, he notices the woman and her child on the side of the road, the woman having a broken hip and struggling to move. Zerchi places them in his car and drives them to the Mercy Camp. Upon arrival, he sees five monks marching before signs that say "ABANDON ALL HOPE, YE WHO ENTER HERE." In the car, Zerchi shares the story of his cat, Zeke, whose spine was crushed in an accident. Despite shooting Zeke twice in an attempt to end his suffering, the cat survived. Zerchi ultimately used a shovel to sever Zeke's spine, but it still did not die immediately. He realized that
he only prolonged the cat's suffering and implores the woman to reconsider going to the Mercy Camp. An officer halts his car and accuses Zerchi of instigating the picket line. The officer removes the woman and her child from the car. Zerchi spots Doctor Cors and punches him before returning to the Abbey with the five picketers, as Cors agrees not to press charges.
Zerchi confesses to Father Lehy that he physically struck Doctor Cors. Afterward, he encounters Mrs. Grales in the chapel, where she expresses her need to forgive God for her physical condition. Despite finding the notion of God needing forgiveness scandalous, Zerchi agrees to help her. Mrs. Grales proceeds to confess a list of sins that Zerchi deems trivial and ordinary. Suddenly, a flash of light occurs, prompting Zerchi to rush outside the confession booth. The chapel fills with smoke, and the church collapses, leaving him trapped and in pain. He screams in agony, sensing the presence of what he refers to as an "Awful Dark." Reflecting on his conversations with Doctor Cors, he realizes his fear of dying without experiencing the same level of suffering as the burned child, whose request for euthanasia he had denied. Zerchi loses consciousness and later wakes to the sight of three vultures nearby. He hears singing, realizing it is Mrs. Grales. As she approaches, he notices Rachel, Mrs. Grales' healthy head, smiling while the extra head is now in a coma. Zerchi removes glass fragments fromMrs. Grales' arm and proceeds to make the sign of the cross on Rachel's head. However, Rachel pulls away, rejecting his gesture. Zerchi faints and, upon regaining consciousness, receives a communion wafer from Rachel, who commands him to live. As he passes away, he witnesses Rachel's eyes and perceives her "primal innocence and the hope of resurrection."
Children enter a spaceship while monks and nuns sing alongside them. As the final monk boards, he contemplates the phrase "Sic transit mundus," meaning "Thus passes the world." Mushroom clouds are visible on the horizon. Miller describes the ongoing life in the ocean, but soon a cloud of white ashes obscures the water as the wind blows. Deep within the water, a hungry shark swims, experiencing a season of intense
hunger.