Chapter summaries The Killing Stones Ann Cleeves

The Killing Stones Chapter Thirty-Six Summary – The Ba' Begins

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens on Christmas morning with Perez, Willow, and their son James. James is disappointed by the lack of snow and eager to attend the boys’ Ba’ game in Kirkwall. After breakfast, the family joins the crowd. Willow spots several Westray residents, including Godfrey Lansdown, Nat Wilkinson, Annie and Bill MacBride, and Vaila Stout with her sons Iain and Lawrie. Vaila, exhausted by grief, asks Willow to fetch Rosalie Greeman. Rosalie agrees to stand with Vaila, and the two women embrace in a moment of reconciliation. Miles Riley, partner of the late George Riley, conducts the throw-up, honoring George’s love for the tradition. The cathedral bells ring ten o’clock, and the Ba’ begins.

Key Events

  • James wakes his parents early on Christmas morning; Willow makes a large breakfast.
  • James insists on attending the boys’ Ba’ despite the lack of snow.
  • Perez, Willow, and James drive to Kirkwall; Perez carries James on his shoulders.
  • Willow observes Westray islanders in the crowd, noting their support for Vaila.
  • Vaila tells Willow she wants to speak with Rosalie; Willow fetches her.
  • Rosalie and Vaila hug, setting aside past tensions.
  • Miles Riley throws up the ba’ in tribute to George, honoring his role as teacher and documentarian.
  • The boys’ game begins promptly at ten o’clock.

Character Development

  • Willow Reeves: Shows maternal concern for James while balancing professional duty. She reflects on gender roles in island traditions and acknowledges Vaila’s strength.
  • Vaila Stout: Appears exhausted and fragile, yet takes a courageous step by seeking out Rosalie. Her grief is raw but she is willing to build bridges.
  • Rosalie Greeman: Initially hesitant, she agrees to stand with Vaila, showing a desire for closure rather than conflict. She admits Archie was “not the love of her life” but still values the ritual.
  • Miles Riley: His role in the throw-up acknowledges George’s legacy and the couple’s relationship, bringing a personal tribute to the public event.
  • Perez: Remains protective of his family, cautious about the day’s risks, and trusts Willow to handle the crowd.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Tradition and Continuity: The Ba’ is a centuries-old Orkney tradition that connects generations. Lawrie plays in honor of his father, who once won the game.
  • Grief and Community Support: Vaila initially shuns sympathy but accepts Rosalie’s presence. The Westray community’s attendance shows solidarity, even as they keep a tentative distance.
  • Reconciliation: The embrace between Vaila and Rosalie signals a possible resolution of earlier tensions, suggesting that shared loss can heal rifts.
  • Gender and Strength: Willow observes that island women like Vaila perform heavy labor, challenging assumptions about women’s roles in physically demanding traditions.
  • Ritual as Healing: Rosalie comments that “the ritual matters. It helps.” The chapter emphasizes how public ceremonies can aid private mourning.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter shifts the investigation’s backdrop from isolation to community gathering. The Ba’ provides a public arena where relationships are tested and mended. The reconciliation between Vaila and Rosalie removes a potential suspect’s motive and opens new avenues for understanding Archie’s death. Miles Riley’s tribute to George keeps the victim’s presence alive, reminding readers that the case involves multiple layers of loss. The chapter also deepens Willow’s character, showing her balancing motherhood with detective work, and reinforces the theme that tradition can both comfort and complicate.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Vaila ask Willow to bring Rosalie to her, and what does their hug signify?
Vaila wants to build bridges rather than maintain hostility; she needs a friend who understands her grief. The hug indicates that both women are willing to set aside past conflicts, likely related to Archie, and support each other in mourning.

2. How does the author use the Ba’ to explore gender roles in Orkney?
Willow reflects that the Ba’ remains a male preserve focused on strength and speed, unlike Shetland’s Up Helly Aa where women now participate. Yet she notes Vaila’s physical labor on the farm, implying that women’s strength is often unrecognized in such traditions.

3. What is the significance of Miles Riley throwing up the ba’?
Miles is the partner of the deceased George Riley, a teacher and Ba’ historian. By having Miles perform the throw-up, the community honors George’s contribution to the tradition and acknowledges their relationship, marking a shift toward broader acceptance.

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