The Children of Men: Chapter 31 Summary & Analysis

Theo finds his way back to Miriam and Julian when he recognizes the blood-spattered road where Luke was killed. He offers them the meager supplies he was able to steal from the elderly couple, and Miriam and Julian, both parched, share the coffee Theo stole. Miriam tells Theo that Julian has gone into labor, and that there is no way to predict how long it will be before the baby is born.

Theo is suddenly full of “certainty and hope,” and decides that the three of them will go to Wychwood Forest—it is near to Oxford, but Theo thinks that it is an unlikely enough spot to buy them more time. He knows that there is a woodshed there where the three of them can take shelter. He instructs Miriam and Julian to get in the car, and begins driving quickly back the way they came.

Though there are no maps, Theo is able to navigate with the help of the stars and the occasional signpost. Julian’s labor slows down, introducing the fear that the labor is a false alarm, and that the three of them will have to outrun Xan for days or weeks more. By morning, Julian’s contractions have resumed.

Miriam prepares a bit of food for the three of them, allowing Julian to eat more than herself and Theo combined. Theo reaches the edge of the forest, and Miriam and Julian decide to get out and walk a little ways as the terrain grows rough. A deer and her fawn crash through the bushes, narrowly missing the front of the car.

As they move into the heart of the forest, Julian and Miriam get back into the car. Miriam spots a house, but Theo thinks that it is “too obvious.” Soon they come upon a lake, and all three get out to wash themselves. Theo wonders if they should dump the car in the lake, as it is nearly out of gas.

Before they dump the car, Theo wants to listen to the news. On the radio, there is an announcement that “a small group of dissidents, one man and two women, are traveling in a stolen blue car.” The announcement identifies Theo by name, and states that he is wanted for murder—the elderly woman Theo bound up with her husband has died in the night. Theo switches off the radio, unable to bear his guilt. Miriam deduces that Rolf has reached Xan, but states that their group’s “one comfort” is that he has no way of knowing that Julian is already in labor.

Theo, enraged and overwhelmed by his own guilt, berates himself for having actually “enjoyed” threatening the elderly couple on some level, and having found the mission exciting. He lashes out at Julian and Miriam, asking “how many lives will [the] child cost before [it’s even] born, and to what purpose.” He predicts a hellish life for the child, and while Julian acknowledges his point of view, she admits that she “can’t think of [her child] without joy.”

Miriam tells Theo to get a hold of himself. He suggests they dump the car right away. Theo puts the car in gear, and he and Miriam shove it into the lake, where it sinks. Theo takes his diary from his pocket and throws that into the lake as well.

Theo asks Miriam and Julian if either of them continue to think of Luke. Julian responds that there will be a time to mourn. Theo suggests they head for the woodshed. They hear a helicopter overhead, and Theo realizes that once Xan knew about the stolen car, he could have easily determined a searchable radius and begun his hunt. Theo hopes that there will be enough time for the child to be born before Xan or his people arrive.

Julian points out a beautiful tree covered in berries, and Theo feels suddenly as if the forest has “transformed” from a place of darkness and fear into a kind of “sanctuary.” At that moment, an elated Miriam spots the woodshed.