How It All Goes Down
- After reaching the plain of Chizukano, Rodrigues is transferred to a different set of guards. These new fellows lead the priest to his new temporary home—a tiny prison built on the side of a hill.
- To his surprise, Rodrigues doesn't hate life in his little isolated prison. It gives him a feeling of "peaceful tranquility" he had yet to attain in Japan (6.9).
- This goes on for nine days, until Rodrigues is abruptly dragged from his cell once again. The guards take him to a different cell near their rooms, though the priest can't understand why.
- The next day, Rodrigues is surprised to hear the sound of several prisoners being dragged into the prison. He's even more surprised when he hears them reciting the "Our Father."
- Rodrigues later discovers that these are the same prisoners as before—Monica and Juan included.
- The next day, Rodrigues performs a prayer service and offers confession. Both the priest and his flock feel much better after this.
- Several weeks later, a guard barges in and gives the priest a set of new red clothes, the traditional garb of "Buddhist monks" (6.26). Though resistant, Rodrigues tries on his new digs.
- The guards then take Rodrigues outside and toss him in front of five chairs, which are eventually filled by five samurai. The time for Rodrigues's cross-examination has come.
- The samurai explain that the relationship between their respective governments is the root of their ban of Christianity. Still, they're obviously hostile towards the priest.
- There is one samurai who seem sympathetic, however. To his shock, this kind-hearted man turns out to be Inoue—the man who made Ferreira apostatize.
- A few days later, the guards lead three prisoners—Juan included—into the courtyard to "dig three holes" (6.71). One man suffers sunstroke and eventually dies after being given last rites by Rodrigues.
- A few days later, a stranger rushes into the prison. In case you didn't guess, it's Kichijiro once again. This time, he tearfully confesses his Christianity and is locked up with the other prisoners.
- Now it's time for the prisoners' faith to be tested with a good old-fashioned fumie-stomping. Everyone stands firm and refuses. Finally, the guards send back everyone but Juan.
- As Rodrigues watches from his cell, Juan is straight up murdered. This gut-wrenching moment is interrupted by Kichijiro, who sprints from his cell, stomps of the fumie, and runs away as fast as he can. Seriously, dude? That's the third time.