Sarath reflects on his teacher, Palipana, who called himself an epigraphist. Palipana was a demanding teacher, but also an inspiring one. As such, he took on few students, including Sarath, with whom he had fallings out after quarrels. Sarath has not seen his mentor in many years. Sarath notes that history was more vibrant to Palipana than the present. He lost the respect of his fellow architects after accusations of fabricating evidence to support his claims about the Indigenous past. Palipana, however, saw himself as rejecting Western narratives and methodologies and withdrew from the world to live in an abandoned forest monastery.

Sarath decides to seek out Palipana’s help with Sailor. Sarath and Anil learn that Palipana is now blind, living in what he calls the Grove of Ascetics. Palipana notices, through touching Sailor, that his skull was recently severed. Sarath admits doing this, and Palipana says that Sarath does nothing without good reason. Anil explains that they believe the government killed Sailor.

In an italicized vignette, the narrator describes the workday of Ananda Udugama, a miner in the gem pits. The work is dark and dangerous, and many of the workers rarely see the light of day.