The Buried Giant

Axl struggles to sleep in an upper-floor roomgiven to him by the monks. Outside, in the evening, he can hear the sound of Wistan and Edwin chopping wood. Axl begins to recall the events of earlier in the day, when the monk, Father Brian, brought him and Beatrice some food and milk. Another monk “with a dark beard and a flushed face” barges in, calling the birds in the rafters “demons” and “agents of the devil” (129-130). Father Brian calms him, and he leaves. After, Father Brian explains that Father Jonus, whom they have come to see, is unwell, and he’s not sure when the Abbott will allow the group to see Jonus.

Axl recalls Wistan and Gawain digging a grave for the fallen soldier. Gawain still insists that Wistan give up his quest to kill the dragon, but Wistan remains evasive. The memory of the fallen soldier and his skill in maneuvering brings Axl to another memory, even further back, when he was on horseback and strategically placing himself between Wistan and some innocent shepherds. He remembers, too, when he and Beatrice were first courting, and she taught him about a plant that is bad luck for unwed girls to touch.