Chapter 28: Capítulo Vinte e Dois – Into the Hermes Underground

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

After fleeing Magpie Lane, Anthony leads Robin, Ramy, Victoire, and Letty back to University College. He activates a hidden door in the chapel memorial to Sir William Jones by pressing specific letters in the inscription. The group crawls through a narrow tunnel that opens into a larger underground passage. Anthony explains the tunnel network is old but a new entrance was added by Lady Jones. They walk nearly a mile before emerging into the Old Library, a forgotten building hidden overgrown and off official records. Inside, they meet Hermes associates Vimal Srinivasan, Cathy O’Nell, and Ilse Dejima. During dinner, the group discusses the impending war with China. Griffin arrives and reveals he knew about the invasion plans. The Hermes plan is to lobby Parliament to vote against war, as stopping the conflict would cut off Britain’s silver supply. Griffin outlines side operations, including sabotaging a Glasgow shipyard. Late that night, Griffin takes Robin outside and forces him to handle a pepper-box revolver. He explains that violence shocks the system and that the colonial system is fragile. Griffin confesses that Evie Brooke was a police informant; he killed her after she set a trap, but claims it was not premeditated. Robin fires the gun for the first time, feeling the intoxicating power of the weapon.

Key Events

Anthony leads the group to a secret entrance in the Univ chapel, using a hidden mechanism on the William Jones memorial.
The party crawls through a tunnel to the Old Library, a concealed Hermes safe house.
Robin learns the Hermes Society includes other former Babel members who faked their deaths.
Griffin arrives and confirms the war plans; the group debates strategies to influence Parliament.
Griffin reveals he killed Evie Brooke because she betrayed them to the authorities.
Griffin teaches Robin to shoot a revolver, arguing that violent resistance is necessary.
Robin fires the gun for the first time, experiencing the thrill of power.

Character Development

Robin Swift: Begins to reconcile his pacifist instincts with the reality of violence. He struggles with guilt over killing Lovell and initially rejects even touching a gun. By the end, he fires the weapon, showing a gradual shift toward acceptance of necessary force. His inner conflict deepens as he hears Griffin’s story about Evie.
Griffin: Reveals more of his ruthless pragmatism. He admits to killing Evie but frames it as self-defense against a traitor. He openly advocates violence as the only language the empire understands. His speech to Robin about the fragility of the colonial economy shows his strategic mind.
Anthony: Serves as a calm, reassuring guide. He contrasts with Griffin’s aggression, emphasizing persuasion and lobbying over sabotage. His compassion helps Robin feel safe after the chaos.
Letty: Struggles to grasp why Hermes members left Babel despite personal happiness. Her naivety is challenged by Anthony’s story of his former master and by Ramy’s blunt interruption.
Victoire: Remains focused and practical, immediately raising the urgency of the Chinese war.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Hidden spaces and secrecy: The tunnel and Old Library symbolize the underground resistance. The library is deliberately unnamed and kept off record to vanish from bureaucratic notice.
Violence as a language: Griffin argues that violence shocks the system and is the only way the empire understands. The revolver represents the ability to level the playing field.
Moral ambiguity of killing: The chapter contrasts Lovell’s death (accidental) with Evie’s death (claimed as self-defense). Robin must decide if either can be justified.
Silver and colonial economy: The Hermes plan to stop the war by targeting Britain’s silver supply. Silver-working is tied both to magical power and to imperial exploitation.
The “good master” myth: Anthony’s story about his former slave owner shows that even apparently benevolent masters are still owners. This parallels Babel’s treatment of scholars from colonized backgrounds.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter transforms the Hermes Society from a vague rumor into a tangible, small-scale resistance network. It reveals the internal debate between persuasion (Anthony) and sabotage (Griffin) as the group tries to influence the historical trajectory of the opium war. Robin’s gun training marks a turning point: he moves from theory to action, accepting that intellectual resistance must be backed by physical force. The revelation about Evie Brooke adds complexity to Griffin’s character and forces Robin to confront the messy reality of revolutionary violence. The chapter sets up the final act: the crew must now execute their plan to stop the war.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Anthony choose to reveal the Hermes safe house to the group now?
Anthony trusts them because they have already committed treason by killing Lovell and fleeing. The safe house is their only refuge. He also needs their help to fight the impending war.
What does Griffin’s story about Evie Brooke reveal about the nature of the resistance?
It shows that betrayal and informants are constant threats. Even a seemingly sympathetic scholar like Evie might be working for Babel. Griffin’s claim that she smiled when the trap closed indicates the personal cruelty of the conflict.
How does Robin’s final action of firing the gun represent a change in his worldview?
Earlier in the chapter he refuses to hold the weapon, but Griffin forces him to feel the power. He admits the “explosion of strength” felt good. This suggests he is beginning to internalize Griffin’s argument that violence is necessary, even if he remains conflicted.