I Am the Messenger: 6 of Clubs Summary & Analysis

Ed returns home to only his dog to keep him company. He feels ready to quit complaining and proceed with his mission. He stands on his front porch and feels as if he can conquer the entire world. He wonders how many people have something like his life happen to them. And of those who do, how many try to make the most of it? Ed puts the Doorman on a leash, and they go for a walk to find the “stones of home” listed on the Ace of Clubs. Unfortunately, Ed still has no idea where to look.

The week goes by and Ed lives his normal routine of playing cards, driving his cab, and practicing for the soccer game with Marv. Marv still lives with his parents and saves most of his money in the bank. Marv chats with Ed about the upcoming soccer game but Ed is still thinking about the “stones of home.” Marv tells Ed not to think so much, like Marv used to obsess over his girlfriend who suddenly left him. Ed feels like he should ask more questions about Marv’s life, but he does not feel like they will ever be that close as friends. Instead, he just asks Marv what he would do if there were some place he needed to be that he couldn’t get to. Marv says he’d be frustrated.

Ed looks at maps and reads local history books but still cannot figure out where he needs to go. He goes back to the first house from the first card and sees that the wife and daughter are now happy without their abusive father. He continues to read to Milla. He watches Sophie run her races. Then at work one night, the answer suddenly comes to him.

While driving, Ed keeps looking for Alice, but never sees her. Around four in the morning, he picks up his final customer of the night, a young man dressed all in black. When Ed asks him where he wants to go, the young man says, “Drive, Ed.” Ed knows this customer is going to the stones of home. While Ed drives, the young man stares at him angrily. Ed asks him if he knows Daryl and Keith and the young man threatens him in response. They drive down to the river.

Ed pulls over near the river and reads the fare out to the young man. The young man refuses to pay, even when Ed insists. Suddenly, the young man jumps out and runs towards the river. Ed chases after him. Ed remembers a similar situation where he was chasing after his younger brother, who was always faster than him. They used to race each other to the river and Ed always lost, even the one time he truly tried to win. Ed once again finds himself chasing a faster, smarter, stronger person.

Ed collapses from exhaustion. He hears the young man laugh before he disappears. He stands alone in the darkness and listens to the river. He realizes that in his pursuit, he left his taxi unlocked with the keys inside. Though he knows he should return to his car, he stays by the river as the sun begins to rise. He thinks about how he and his brother used to fish upstream while standing on smooth rocks.

Ed struggles his way upstream to the stones. The sun is rising, and his cab doors are still unlocked. Ed pictures his brother and himself climbing over the stones. He realizes this is the “home” the card was referring too. At the rocks, he finds three names written. Lacking pen and paper, Ed records the names in his mind. He repeats them over and over again as he walks to his cab. When he arrives, he finds his keys safely hidden in the sun visor.