Chapter 117 Summary and Analysis: The Laptop Trade
⚠️ 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
Colin (Svangur) retrieves the sword from its silken wrappings and tests its magical lock, laughing when it refuses to budge a second time. The troll Stu Finger moves closer, brandishing a splintered thigh bone, and offers to strike Arthur’s corpse. Colin rebukes him for using a racist slur against Arthur. Finger defends his earlier cleverness—making the journey deliberately hard on both men to avoid tipping off Arthur. Arthur lies dead, having last spoken Gwen’s name and recited Psalm 23. Colin, saddened, reflects that Arthur will never leave this grave. He then finds a small vial containing what looks like merlot: the thousand-year-old blood of a woman who forgave her murderer. According to Finger, this blood can heal any physical wound and even turn back the clock ten years with a single swallow. Colin decides to keep the blood for himself, preferring the pleasures of mortal life. When Finger demands his promised payment, Colin first offers the Surrealist’s Glass from Arthur’s pocket. The troll is dismayed. Colin then produces a brand-new Sony Vaio laptop with a mobile antenna. Finger asks if they can play Doom on it. Colin assures him it can stream internet videos and introduces the concept of cam girls. Finger accepts the laptop with joyful relief.
Key Events
- Colin tests the sword’s magical seal and laughs at its trick.
- Stu Finger threatens to hit Arthur’s body; Colin warns him against using racist language.
- Arthur expires while murmuring Gwen and Psalm 23; Colin mourns his fate.
- Colin discovers the vial of ancient blood and learns its healing and rejuvenating properties.
- He chooses not to revive Arthur, keeping the blood for himself.
- Colin bargains with Finger: first offering the Surrealist’s Glass, then a laptop.
- Finger eagerly accepts the laptop, dreaming of Doom and cam girls.
Character Development
- Colin (Svangur): Shows a pragmatic, self-preserving nature. He is capable of sentiment—feeling sadness for Arthur—but ultimately prioritizes his own longevity over friendship. His teasing of Finger and quick thinking during negotiations display his cunning.
- Stu Finger: Greedy and crude, yet easily distracted by the promise of modern technology. His racism is checked by Colin’s threat. His fixation on video games and online entertainment reveals a childishness beneath his monstrous appearance.
- Arthur (deceased): Though dead, his final words (Gwen’s name and Psalm 23) indicate a spiritual turn and a lingering attachment to a loved one. His corpse becomes a bargaining chip and a reminder of mortality.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Regeneration versus the cost of life: The ancient blood offers physical healing and youth, but Colin must decide whether to use it on Arthur or himself. He chooses life extension over resurrection, underscoring a theme of self-interest.
- Technological temptation: The troll’s desire for a laptop and internet access (Doom, cam girls) symbolizes how modern entertainment can corrupt or distract even ancient, otherworldly beings. Colin uses this as a bargaining tool.
- Magic bound by rules: The sword’s one-time draw and the blood’s limitations (cannot heal soul wounds) reinforce the idea that supernatural objects operate under strict conditions.
- Psalm 23: Arthur’s recitation invokes comfort and faith in an afterlife, yet Colin flatly states “there would be no green pastures for Arthur,” contrasting spiritual hope with grim material reality.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 117 is a pivotal turning point: Colin solidifies his alliance (or at least his transactional relationship) with Stu Finger, abandons any hope of saving Arthur, and secures a powerful regenerative substance for himself. The laptop trade introduces a modern, almost absurdist element that lightens the dark tone while reinforcing Colin’s manipulative skill. It also sets up future potential use of the blood and establishes that Colin is willing to sacrifice others for his own survival.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Colin choose not to revive Arthur with the blood?
Colin values his own life and youth over bringing Arthur back. He remarks that dying is fine for those eager for the next life, but he finds the present life “perfectly adequate.” He takes a sip of the blood for himself, essentially opting to extend his own years rather than resurrect a friend.
2. What does Stu Finger’s reaction to the laptop reveal about his character?
The troll’s obsession with video games (Doom) and instant access to online entertainment shows that he is not merely a brute but also a creature of vice and desire. His eagerness to accept a laptop over a magical mirror indicates that modern pleasures can override his original greed for power.
3. How does the chapter handle Arthur’s death and its aftermath?
Arthur’s death is treated with muted grief—Colin feels sad and recites his final words, but he does not linger. The narrative quickly moves to practical matters (the blood, the bargain). This efficient transition underscores the harsh, unsentimental world Colin inhabits, where the dead are left behind without ceremony.