- Kumalo gets a letter from his son's lawyer, Mr. Carmichael, saying that their appeal to stop Absalom's execution has failed. His son will definitely be hanged.
- On the bright side, Kumalo sees the storm clouds gather: they are finally going to get rain.
- Then, outside, he sees a totally weird sight: Jarvis, the magistrate, and the chief are all talking to each other while Jarvis puts a series of sticks in the ground with little flags attached to them.
- When the storm breaks, Jarvis shelters in Kumalo's church, where Kumalo gives Jarvis the letter that sets Absalom's execution for the fifteenth of the month.
- Jarvis seems genuinely sad to read the news that Absalom is going to be hanged for Arthur's death.
- Meanwhile, the mystery of why Jarvis put all those sticks in the ground interests the whole village.