The Drowned World: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Riggs is ready to speak with Kerans by 8:00 the next morning. Strangeman and his crew sit in the shade, supervised by Macready and his machine gun. Riggs explains to Kerans that he knew about Strangeman through his aerial patrols, and they guessed that he might cause trouble in London. Noticing the helicopter, Kerans comments on how much Daley's flying has improved. Riggs asks if Kerans has seen Hardman, and Kerans replies that Hardman is long gone. Riggs expresses sadness about Bodkin, and Kerans is surprised to realize he had already forgotten about him. Riggs’s query about Hardman, however, reminds him of how important it is to go south.

Kerans asks Riggs why he doesn't arrest Strangeman, and Riggs incredulously reminds Kerans that killing in self-defense is perfectly legal, and states that Strangeman will surely be rewarded for draining the lagoon. He continues that if Strangeman had killed Kerans, he wouldn't have been able to do anything. Further, if Strangeman complains, Riggs will be hard pressed to explain why he's holding him with machine guns. Kerans leans tiredly on the window and realizes that there's a huge gulf between himself and Riggs. Kerans finds that he can't even listen to Riggs anymore and reality seems fake.

Kerans asks about the looting, and Riggs says that Strangeman is doing humanity a favor by reclaiming abandoned works of art. He tells Kerans that he needs to forget Strangeman, and asks Kerans about his dreams. Kerans shudders and says that Strangeman is "like a white devil out of a voodoo cult," and asks Riggs when he's going to re-flood the lagoon. Riggs is bewildered and says he'll shoot anyone who tries. He reminds Kerans that reclaiming land by draining the cities is a top priority, and if Strangeman will empty the other two lagoons, he'll be pardoned and celebrated.

Kerans implores Riggs to re-flood the lagoon. He insists that the streets are obscene and dead, but Riggs cuts him off and says that everyone is leaving tomorrow, and he's not obsessed with the lagoons. Kerans, confused, says that Strangeman will still be here, and Riggs insists that Strangeman can and should stay if he can stand the heat and the rain, and if he's successful in draining the city, they might eventually reoccupy it. He insists that Kerans and Beatrice need to return to Camp Byrd, and tells Kerans to be grateful that he arrived on time. As Kerans leaves, he tells Riggs that in fact he came too late.