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Chapter 66 Summary: Hilda's Reunion with Nora

⚠️ 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

Chapter 66 (numbered 63 in the narrative) contrasts the peaceful resignation of Hilda's small town with the chaotic collapse of the city. In the rural community, residents have split into two groups: believers who accept the end and agnostics who ignore it. There is no panic; the Hutterite colony shares food, and Christmas decorations line Main Street. Baby Jesus is absent from the Nativity display, to be added on Christmas Eve if the church secretary survives.

Hilda drives to the city airport in Marlen's truck. The city is a shock: unplowed snow, abandoned cars in ditches, smashed windows, darkened businesses, and angry protesters outside the airport holding nonsensical signs. Inside, the terminal is nearly empty; one information worker confirms Nora's flight from Toronto is due within half an hour. Hilda waits at the arrivals gate, and when Nora appears, the reunion is emotional. Nora gives Hilda a small handmade felt box containing a silver locket, a souvenir from the "Before Times." Hilda feels whole, happy, and optimistic.

Key Events

  • Hilda observes the calm in small towns: residents are resigned or in denial; food is shared; Christmas decorations are up.
  • The Hutterite colony donates eggs and meat; no hysteria exists.
  • Baby Jesus is missing from the local Nativity scene; the church secretary plans to add Him on Christmas Eve if still alive.
  • Hilda drives to the city; the roads are unplowed, cars are abandoned, and many store windows are smashed.
  • A protest group at the airport shouts about the government; their signs are unrelated to gamma ray bursts.
  • The airport is mostly empty; monitors are blank; an information worker says Nora's flight is still expected within half an hour.
  • Hilda reunites with Nora; both cry and hug.
  • Nora gives Hilda a silver locket inside a green felt box.

Character Development

  • Hilda: Her determination to reunite with Nora despite the deteriorating conditions shows maternal resolve. The reunion restores her optimism and sense of wholeness.
  • Nora: Her gift of a locket—a souvenir from the "Before Times"—indicates she still values small acts of normalcy and connection amid crisis.
  • Irene (mentioned): Hilda's unresolved relationship with Irene remains the only loose end in her life.
  • Marlen (mentioned): His urging to take the truck demonstrates his care for Hilda's safety.
  • Airport woman: Represents the strain on those still working; she is kind but exhausted and uncertain.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Rural vs Urban Chaos: The small town maintains order and neighborly kindness, while the city descends into abandonment and anger. This contrast suggests that community bonds help people cope with impending doom.
  • Christmas Decorations: The rural Nativity missing Baby Jesus symbolizes hope that the end may not come before Christmas Eve. The city church has Baby Jesus already present, perhaps reflecting despair or disregard for tradition.
  • The Locket: A tangible object from before the crisis, the locket represents continuity, memory, and the enduring power of personal connections.
  • Waiting and Resignation: The two groups (believers and agnostics) mirror different human responses to inevitability—either acceptance or denial.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter bridges Hilda's personal journey with the apocalyptic backdrop. It reinforces the novel's emphasis on human connection as a source of strength. The reunion with Nora offers a rare moment of joy and hope, reminding Hilda (and the reader) that even at the end, love matters.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Hilda feel a shock when arriving in the city?
    She is unprepared for the urban chaos after experiencing the calm of her small town. The snowplows have not run, businesses are dark, windows are smashed, and protesters are angry—a stark contrast to the rural order.

  2. What does the missing Baby Jesus in the rural Nativity scene symbolize compared to the city church?
    In the rural town, the Nativity remains incomplete, reflecting a hope that the end might not come before Christmas Eve. In the city, Baby Jesus is already present, suggesting resignation or a disregard for tradition in the face of crisis.

  3. How does Nora's gift of a locket affect Hilda?
    It restores Hilda's optimism and sense of wholeness. The locket, a meaningful object from the "Before Times," symbolizes that small, heartfelt gestures still matter even as the world ends.

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