There are fates far worse than death, and one character’s path appears to have taken that sadder outcome. Ibarra, in comparison, escapes by the skin of his teeth, and on the whole seems to have gotten off quite lightly. So ends the Noli.
Chapter 61: The Chase on the Lake
Elias tries to convince Ibarra to leave the country as the two men make their way up the Pasig river in a small boat. Elias reveals he had taken money from Ibarra’s burning house and had buried it at the foot of the balete in the woods for Ibarra to use to live a new life.
Ibarra invites Elias to escape with him, but Elias declines, preferring to suffer with this countrymen. Ibarra is offended that Elias does not think him capable of staying behind, and vows to be a true dissident to fight for the country with other unfortunates. Elias cautions him, as such an extreme approach could lead to the suffering of the innocent, and that the country does not need a full rebellion, but only some freedom and justice.
As they reach the lake, police boats appear. Elias jumps into the water to draw the pursuers away. The police repeatedly fire at him as he swims away.
Chapter 62: Padre Damaso Explains
Maria Clara had planned to struggle through life with the consoling knowledge that Ibarra was alive elsewhere, but as the newspapers now report Ibarra’s supposed drowning in the lake, Maria Clara loses the will to live. She asks Padre Damaso to allow her to enter the nunnery or else to let her die.
Padre Damaso begs her for forgiveness for causing her unhappiness, and explains that he had only opposed her marriage to Ibarra because, as a native, Ibarra was destined to live a difficult life, and their children would either be persecuted or debased. Whereas, if she married a Spaniard like Linares, their children would be respected.
Padre Damaso asks Maria Clara to reconsider her decision, but she is adamant. The friar consents in despair, and is convinced that God is chastising him.
Chapter 63: Christmas Eve
Basilio, having been found wounded, and rescued by a poor family in the mountains, decides to head back to town to look for his mother and brother. He sees Sisa and runs after her all the way to the tomb of Ibarra’s grandfather in the woods. He is injured in the chase and faints as he embraces Sisa. Basilio awakens to find his mother dead.
A wounded stranger arrives and interrupts Basilio’s mourning. The man declares he does not have long to live and instructs the boy to gather firewood to burn his body and Sisa’s. He also tells Basilio to, if no one else arrives, dig through the ground for buried gold and to use the money to study.
Epilogue
After Maria Clara enters the nunnery, Padre Salvi and Padre Damaso leave town for Manila, where months later, Padre Damaso dies. Capitan Tiago falls into depression, orders Aunt Isabel away, and becomes addicted to gambling, cockfighting and opium.
Don Tiburcio is never called upon again to attend to any patients which displeases Doña Victorina. Linares dies of dysentery. The alferez is promoted to major and returns to Spain, leaving behind Dona Consolasion who devotes herself to drinking and smoking.
As to Maria Clara, two patrolmen report seeing a white figure moaning on the roof of the nunnery one stormy night. The following morning, an official visits the nunnery and asks to see all the nuns. One beautiful nun with a wet and torn habit begs for his protection, but the official refuses. The Captain-General hears of this and asks to see the nun, but the abbess forbids it in the name of Religion.
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