In Darkness Chapter 22 Summary

Then

  • Over in prison, Toussaint is treated pretty well, all things considered.
  • He has a view of the mountains in his cell, plus he's given paper and pen to write whenever he wants.
  • It's not the Ritz, but Toussaint can't complain either.
  • He figures his trial will be soon, and reads while he's awaiting it.
  • One day, a message from the new emperor (Napoleon) is delivered to him. He wants to strike a deal with Toussaint: If Toussaint reveals where he hid the treasure, he can go free.
  • Huh? What treasure? Toussaint wonders. There's never been a treasure. Any money or goods that he acquired while general, he distributed evenly among the men.
  • Toussaint tells this to the officer, but no one believes him.
  • A few weeks later, the guy returns with the same demand: Just tell us where the treasure is hidden, and no one gets hurt, man.
  • Another few weeks pass, and this time, Toussaint is switched to another cell. This one doesn't have a view of the mountains or a place to write. In fact, his paper and pen are taken from him, too.
  • He realizes that this is his trial and punishment, all rolled into one. He has to rot in prison until he dies.
  • Toussaint starts dreaming, and slips in and out of reality. He's not sure whether he's alive or dead.
  • What's weirder is that he doesn't know if he's even himself anymore. He travels to the future and sees the Site in Haiti.
  • It's a bummer—since Toussaint fought so hard for freedom—that his country is still enslaved, just to a different master and system now.
  • He finds himself in a cave, with his tooth back in place. He's not sure if he's himself but he knows there's no way out. It's dark and he can't see anything.