The Testaments: Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

Lydia wonders who the reader of her manuscript will be, whether a foreign historian or a horrified Aunt who will swiftly report it to the Eyes or burn it immediately to preserve Lydia’s holy memory. Thus far Lydia has survived several purges, since those in power do not like to be challenged and often hang potential threats to their rule from the Wall. However, Lydia knows too much—she is an invaluable asset for managing the woman’s half of Gilead. She keeps secrets for every man of power in the government on the condition that her own life is preserved. Even so, she, like everyone in Gilead, is never safe, and she hopes for “just a little more time” to achieve her aims.

Lydia is invited to meet Commander Judd in the Eyes’ headquarters, established in what was once a grand library that still possesses many contraband books. Although this meeting is not unprecedented, the Eyes’ domain is still a dangerous place and Commander Judd, as their head, is one of the most powerful men in Gilead. When Lydia arrives in Judd’s office, they exchange pleasantries. Lydia asks after his wife’s health. Judd has a predilection for very young girls, like “King David and assorted Central American drug lords.” His wives tend to mysteriously die once they age out of his tastes, at which point he’ll be “in the market for another child bride.” This is an open secret between himself and Lydia.

Judd explains that his operatives in Canada have identified and eliminated two members of the Mayday resistance movement—which runs the Underground Femaleroad—with the help of Lydia’s Pearl Girls. The Pearl Girls, like many other things, were established by Lydia, since she reasoned that if other religions have missionaries who take part in espionage, then so should theirs. Lydia directly oversees them and the printing of the brochures they carry in Ardua Hall. They gather intelligence, some of which Lydia passes along to Judd, though not all. Judd reveals that they’ve learned the Mayday operatives have a source in Gilead leaking information to them, and Lydia feigns shock and assures Judd she will hunt for this traitor. Judd thanks her and expresses his admiration for her abilities.

Lydia thinks that her life could have been different had she fled the country earlier like many women did, but she stayed behind with her country, which she once loved. Lydia’s journey was “littered with corpses” though she herself managed to survive.

Lydia recalls the past: she was arrested right after the Sons of Jacob “liquidated Congress” in a sweeping terrorist attack. A state of emergency was declared; American citizens were told to just carry on as usual. Although the courts were closed, Lydia and some of her female colleagues were there to catch up on work and enjoy each other’s company. Katie, recently pregnant via sperm donor, burst into Lydia’s office and told her they needed to get out of the country right away. Her bank account and all assets had been seized—something bad was happening. Anita arrived as well, and said that her assets were frozen, too, and that the constitution had just been entirely abolished. Whoever planned this has been preparing it for years.

A group of men toting guns kicked the front door in. One woman screamed. They immediately began sorting the women between fertile, young and attractive enough that a man might still marry, and older and professional. Lydia and Anita were both in the older and professional category, so they were handcuffed, loaded into a black van, and transported to a stadium where they were roughly deposited. Lydia saw that it had been converted into a prison.