Chapter 74 Summary: One More Shot at the Goal
⚠️ 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 leaving the hospital, Maddie is visibly furious. She packs both suitcases with a rage that Oliver can see moving through her like a bully looking for a fight. The doctor has told Oliver to rest his injured hand, so he does not help; instead, he watches her and feels her pain. He briefly wonders whether he could reach out and take that pain from her the way he did with Graham, but he is unsure if that is something he can replicate, and he questions whether pain is something we need—some good, some bad, some ours to keep, some invasive. Fear of doing the wrong thing keeps him still.
When Maddie turns to him, Oliver apologizes. He says he is sorry for getting involved with Jake, for falling for it, and for not having the guts to kill him. He believes his failure has cost his father his life. Maddie immediately pulls him into an embrace, swaying with him, and tells him not to do that to himself. She insists he is a good kid with a beautiful heart, and that Jake is not him—nor are any of the other Olivers who died on that table. She tells him he is his own creature, and that they will run until they figure out how to stop running. Oliver says he loves her, and she says she loves him too.
They get into her Subaru Forester, with Fig in the passenger seat and Oliver curled up in the back under his jacket. Maddie decides it is time to tell Fig everything. She explains that Jake is Oliver from another universe or timeline, that Jake wants to end every universe, and that to do so he must kill Oliver. She assumes Nate was sent away to get to Oliver, but she is not sure, and she says Nate is probably dead. She asks Fig for a place to hide.
Fig is stunned, calls the situation insane, and wishes they would stay so he could keep them safe. He suggests calling the authorities or the feds, but Maddie firmly declines. Fig sighs and hands her the keys to his cabin north of Lake Wallenpaupack. He describes it as a small fishing cabin with no internet, meager cell service, a spotty landline, an antenna TV, a woodstove for heat and cooking, and an unstocked pantry. He mentions a general store two miles south and notes the area has enough to get by even in winter because of nearby skiing. He gives the cabin with his and Zoe's blessing, saying they will be busy with their baby soon.
Fig then offers Maddie his gun, but she opens the console and reveals she already has a Glock, which Nate asked her to carry. Fig laughs and accepts that she can take care of herself. He asks to hear from her, but Maddie advises him to take Zoe and get out of town too, to lay low. Fig struggles with this, saying he does not know if he can do that. Maddie tells him he is not really a cop and does not owe anyone this. Fig takes mild offense but then says he might be able to help in his own way. He tells Maddie to stay safe and to reach out if she needs him, and he tells Oliver to protect his mother as she will protect him. Oliver nods. Fig leaves, and Maddie starts the car, seeing Fig in the rearview mirror watching them go.
Key Events
- Maddie packs angrily while Oliver watches, unable to help due to his injured hand.
- Oliver apologizes for his involvement with Jake and for not killing him; Maddie reassures him that he is not Jake and that they will run until they find a way to stop.
- Maddie tells Fig the full truth about Jake being an alternate-universe Oliver who wants to destroy all universes and must kill Oliver, and that Nate is likely dead.
- Fig gives Maddie the keys to his cabin north of Lake Wallenpaupack, describing its sparse amenities.
- Fig offers his gun, but Maddie reveals she already has a Glock that Nate asked her to carry.
- Maddie declines Fig's suggestion to contact authorities and instead advises Fig to take Zoe and leave town as well.
- Fig leaves, and Maddie drives away, with Fig watching in the rearview mirror.
Character Development
Oliver is consumed by guilt and self-blame. He apologizes for falling for Jake's manipulation and for failing to kill him, believing that his inaction led to his father's disappearance. His internal struggle about pain transference shows his growing awareness of his strange abilities, but also his fear of using them. Maddie's reassurance that he is his own creature, separate from Jake and the other Olivers, helps ground him, though his vulnerability remains evident.
Maddie emerges as a fiercely protective mother. Her anger at the hospital is a manifestation of her fear and grief, but she channels it into decisive action. She takes charge, demands a hiding place from Fig, and refuses to involve authorities, trusting her own judgment. Her possession of the Glock—given to her by Nate—shows her preparedness and self-reliance. She also extends that protective instinct to Fig, urging him to leave town with Zoe, even as she accepts his help.
Fig demonstrates loyalty and trust. Despite finding Maddie's story insane, he does not dismiss her. He gives her the keys to his cabin without hesitation and offers his gun. His conflict about leaving town reveals his sense of duty, but he ultimately respects Maddie's wishes and promises to help however he can. His parting words to Oliver—to protect his mother—underscore his care for the family.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Pain transference and the necessity of pain: Oliver's brief meditation on whether he could take Maddie's pain, and whether pain is something we need, echoes the novel's broader exploration of suffering. He wonders if some pain is good and some bad, and whether taking it away would save or doom someone. This moment highlights his uncertainty about his powers and the moral weight of using them.
Guilt and self-blame: Oliver's apology is rooted in guilt over his involvement with Jake and his failure to kill him. Maddie's response—insisting he is not Jake and that he has a beautiful heart—directly counters that guilt, reinforcing the theme that identity is not determined by one's origins or mistakes.
Running as survival: Maddie's statement that they are running until they figure out how to not run anymore frames flight as a temporary strategy, not a permanent solution. The chapter emphasizes that running is a means of survival, but also a state they hope to escape.
Multiverse identity: Maddie's explanation to Fig—that Jake is Oliver from another universe and that other Olivers died on the table—reinforces the novel's multiverse concept. Oliver's uniqueness is stressed: he is his own creature, not defined by his alternate selves.
Refuge and hiding: The cabin represents a safe haven, a place of retreat from the threat. Its sparse amenities—no internet, spotty phone, woodstove—suggest a deliberate removal from the world, a place where they can lie low and regroup.
Maternal protection and self-reliance: Maddie's actions throughout the chapter—packing, demanding a hiding place, carrying a gun, advising Fig to leave—showcase her determination to protect her son at all costs. She relies on her own resources rather than external authority.
Trust and loyalty: Fig's willingness to give Maddie his cabin and his gun, despite his doubts, demonstrates deep trust. Maddie's advice to Fig to leave town shows her reciprocal concern for his safety, even as she accepts his help.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter serves as a crucial transition in the narrative. It moves the characters from the hospital—a place of medical and emotional crisis—into a new phase of flight and concealment. Maddie's decision to confide fully in Fig establishes a key ally and secures a refuge, setting the stage for the family's next moves. The chapter also deepens Oliver's internal conflict about his abilities and his guilt, while reinforcing Maddie's role as a protector. Thematically, it crystallizes the novel's concerns with identity, pain, and survival, and it sets up the practical and emotional challenges the characters will face as they go into hiding.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Oliver hesitate to take Maddie's pain, and what does this reveal about his character?
Oliver hesitates because he is unsure whether he can replicate the pain transference he used with Graham, and he questions whether pain is something that should be removed. He wonders if some pain is necessary or good, and whether taking it would save or doom his mother. This reveals his growing awareness of his abilities, but also his moral uncertainty and fear of causing harm. It shows that he is not reckless with his power, but rather thoughtful and cautious.
2. How does Maddie's response to Oliver's apology shape the reader's understanding of her character?
Maddie immediately rejects Oliver's self-blame, telling him he is not Jake and that he has a beautiful heart. She physically embraces him and insists he is his own creature. This response shows her deep love and protective instinct, but also her ability to separate Oliver from the other versions of himself. It reinforces her role as a mother who will defend her son not only physically but emotionally, and it establishes her as a source of stability in the chaos.
3. What is the significance of Maddie already having a Glock when Fig offers his gun?
Maddie's possession of the Glock, which Nate asked her to carry, demonstrates her preparedness and self-reliance. It shows that she has already taken steps to protect herself and Oliver, and that she does not need to rely on Fig's charity for defense. This moment also ties her to Nate, whose absence looms over the chapter, and it reinforces the theme of maternal protection—she is ready to fight for her son. Fig's laugh acknowledges her capability, and the exchange underscores the trust and mutual respect between them.