Miles arrives late to his first meeting of the Southern Vermont Chapter of the Jeremiah Wylkes Society, a secret group that believes in a subterranean world. The meeting begins with Hugh, the chapter president, presenting “Updates”—news from other Wylkes chapters, maps, aerial photos, and reports on tunnel searches across New England. A local historian named Earl Blossfeldt then recounts the origin of the society’s foundational text, the Colloquies. He explains that in 1874, a 104-year-old Jeremiah Wylkes dictated the story of his journeys to a forester known as “X,” who later left the manuscript for Professor Ambrose Polk to publish. Earl reveals his new research: four newly found mentions of the Colloquies in letters from Polk to his sister-in-law Evelyn, with whom Polk had a decade-long affair. The key passage, quoted aloud at the meeting, shows Polk expressing dawning belief in the manuscript’s truth. Following this, Andrei presents his dowsing (a form of divination) findings, and Candace presents her paintings of Princess Gabalor, a character from the Colloquies.

After the meeting, Snowflake Bentley gives Miles a ride home and explains the members’ diverse motivations and levels of belief. The next morning, Miles arranges for Green Mountain Towing and Repair to retrieve his car, which had been left at the Mountain Catch with flat tires.