Summary of chapter 3

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Summary of chapter 3

At the beginning of this chapter Cal tells his father about his new job at the Mortons' farm where he helps his foreman Dunlop. Cal thinks it to be a topic he and his father can talk about. Cal feels nervous because he gets the news that Crilly has asked for him. Later he visits him. Crilly and Skeffington want Cal to drive the car when Crilly robs a shop. Cal agrees but he makes sure that he only drives the car!

He gets to know Skeffington's father. Furthermore Cal and Skeffington are talking about Cal's intention to leave the organization but Skeffington explains to him that he will be a part of the problem if he gets out.

Later Cal goes into the library again where he meets Marcella. They have a short conversation and Cal borrows a book. When he wants to go home he sees their house burning. Cal is very afraid and nervous because he fears his father might still be in the house. After a moment he sees him and both are very happy. This night they sleep in the house of Cal's father's cousin.

Cal asks his father to do him a favour. He wants to leave his home and does not want his father to tell Crilly about it.

In chapter 3 there is also described how Crilly shot Marcella's husband one year before. Cal was the driver of the car.

"There were two Cortinas among the ranks of cars. (...) He pulled the string of Ford keys from his pocket and began to work through them systematically. Crilly had got them from a bloke in a garage in return for not burning it down" (CAL, p. 74)

Cal has got a guilty conscience and he knows that this deed will take him the rest of his life to purge.

by Carola

The following chapters: Four, Five

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