Voyager - By Diana Gabaldon

Please discuss Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager ONLY in this thread. Thanks!
The SPOILER Thread can be found here.

Voyager - Chapter 61: The CROCODILE’S FIRE

Part 1:
Claire, Jamie and Lawrence set out to Mrs. Abernathy (aka, Geilie) to find if Ian is there. On the way Jamie thanks Stern for joining them. Due to the fact that he met her before, he was curious to see if what Jamie and Claire say about her is true.
DG doesn't exactly say whether Stern had any intimate encounter with Geilie, but everything seems to point to that. Here are some interesting quotes:
Stern says "It is difficult to believe that such a lovely woman might engage in such reprehensible behavior as you describe, James"
Jamie: "Lovely, aye?" "A bit smitten, were ye, Lawrence?"
Stern: "There is a sort of carnivorous fly I have observed, friend James. The male fly, choosing a female to court, takes pains to bring her a bit of meat or other prey, tidily wrapped in a small silk package. While the female is engaged in unwrapping her tidbit, he leaps upon her, performs his copulatory duties, and hastens away. For if she should finish her meal before he has finished his own activities, or should he be so careless as not to bring her a tasty present – she eats him." Then he says "No, it was an interesting experience, but I think I shall not call upon Mrs. Abernathy again."
So either Stern did get smitten with Geilie and freaked out afterwards, or she tried to get smitten with him and he freaked out and ran! He doesn't seem the type to just jump into "bed", but who knows. With Geilie anything seems possible.

Part 2:
They reached Geilie place by the riverbank. It was dark. The men just left Claire there. Did they actually think Claire was going to wait there? NO WAY! She sees someone and off course she must go and find out whom. That’s Claire and that’s why we love her! After she surveillances the house, she finds the Reverend Archibald Campbell of all people.
Rev asks Claire what she is doing there. She asks the same. So he is a guest of house, telling Claire it seems Geilie and her slaves left in the middle of the night. How can he have not heard anything!? He then asks Claire for her husband's real name and why is it that Geilie told him that their surname is Fraser. Obviously the Rev wants to blame Jamie for his sister's "situation". Claire explains to the Rev that it was someone else in Culloden that she grieves and decided to shut her mouth and mind. He doesn't believe her. I guess it's always easier to blame someone in reach. By this time Claire wants to leave, the Rev won't allow her. He wants to wait with her for Jamie to arrive. She told him Jamie is in Kingston. She is a bad lier, so he doesn’t believe her.
One thing leads to another and the Rev tells her why he has been a guest. He has been copying documents for Geilie. Documents are the Frasers, about Charles Stuart and the rising. The Rev noticed he looked at the name Fraser and told her about the prophecy; that Jamie is an illegitimate descendant…which Claire starting thinking whether Geilie knew Lovat's descendants in the future. From this point I started to think of Bree and what will happen to her. Who else?
In all these thoughts, the Chinese man shows up. While everyone thinks he killed that woman in Rose Hall. He comes in and says to the Rev "Most holy fella" and everything became clear to me. He saw the Rev kill her and he came to warn his master or First Wife. Claire putting one and one together, remembering in Edinburgh about the prostitute that got killed, she obviously believed in the Chinese man. Why was the Rev killing them? What it the anger he had for his sister? Why not kill his sister all this time?
Next thing, the Rev is on the floor and tells Claire that the Chinese man game them away back in Edinburgh. Claires asks the Chinese man whether it is true. He says it is. He talks about ghost following him that he is not who he is. He says he was drunk one night at the bar and someone asks him if he knew Mac-Doo. So as we know, when he gets drunk, anything is possible. After realization of what just went on, Claire decides to go upstairs and find out the truth where Geilie went, leaving them both down stairs.

Part 3:
Claire is upstairs. She started looking through things. She found Bree's photo. At least now we know where the photos disappeared. She tried to think why Geilie would need Bree's photo. Thinking about her conversation with Geilie before, then it hit, she was telling Geilie that she must pay attention to a specific person when she travels through the stones. How can Geilie be so sly?! So Geilie not only wanted to focus on someone from the present (1968), but also use them for the prophecy. Bree was her answer, the prophecy. After Claire's realization, she went to find Jamie.

Part 4:
Claire went to look for Jamie, no sign of him. How long do you think passed when she left the boat to go into the house and now looking for Jamie? Minutes? An hour? How could Jamie leave her for so long?
So she goes out in the dark and gets knocked off her feet. She ran and bumped into a black slave. He asks her what she is doing here. Obviously he wasn't expecting anyone. The slaves seem to be doing some sort of ritual, which Claire happen to be in. She noticed the man who was the leader, Ishmael. Claire never expected this. She was in shock watching this sacrifice/ritual take place before her eyes. What can she do? Where is Jamie in all this? Could Claire go into shock or trance by watching this?

Part 5:
Claire eventually gets out of her shock and Ishmael starts talking to her. Tells he Geilie is not in today. I was thinking, does this happen often?! He then tells her Geilie went with the boy. Obviously talking about Ian. All of a sudden Miss Campbell shows up. Now that was shocking! I never expected her to show up…and talking. She seemed like she belonged there, as if she was always talking.
So Margaret obviously had a big part in this ritual business and Claire was going to watch. Claire goes along with them, what else could she do? She can't say the whole situation is freaky. There was smoke and such. Obviously drugs, making her feel weird.
There was some sacrifice with the chicken. The chicken was shaking violently and Margaret didn't like it, so she said "I do wish it wouldn't do that" and then explained why. "Archie says women are betrayers. Is that so, do you think?". What was the Rev teaching her!? Did she listen/see what he thought all this time? Why did he say that!? What does he have against women?
Claire was drugged and so was everyone else there. Margaret went into a trance and started speaking things. Claire wasn't sure what she was hearing. What sort of drug was it? Any ideas? Margaret was no long herself. She was becoming the voices she was talking. Do you believe?
Jamie shows up, tells Claire to come with him. She starts to make her way, and then Margaret says "Daddy" in Bree's voice. I heard stories of people who can do that, but I don't know if I believe it is possible.

Part 6:
Claire talks back to Bree (aka Margaret). Bree answers. Bree tells Jamie she dreamt about him. She tells Jamie to not let Claire go alone, to go with her and she will him safe. Then she said she loves them, came to kiss Claire and Claire freaked! Bree was gone.
Margaret went back to being herself. Quiet. Jamie asked Ishmael where Geilie went, Hispaniola. Seems like Ishmael knows a lot then he is saying. Why is he talking in pieces, in code? Could he really know that Geilie is from a different time?
Ishmael tells them that Geilie will die in 3 days and so will Ian. They heard it themselves from the ghost (Margaret speaking). I think Jamie and Claire believe him. I mean why not, Claire did the impossible…travel through time. So mystical stuff should be believable to her and Jamie.
Just as they were about to go, Jamie calls Maragret, asking if she knows him, which she does. She asks about Ewan (her lover from Culloden) and Jamie answers her as if Ewan was alive. She tells Jamie she will be with Ewan soon. How could she know this!? Jamie let her go, because he knew she must. Then they left…


I know I wrote a bit too much but I wrote as if I was readying this to myself and thinking at the same time. It's my first chapter writing..hope i didn't bore you

enjoy

Meytal, you did a great job! I am fairly new at this too and it really isn't easy with some of these chapters.

I had the impression that something had taken place between Stern and Gellis, but you are right, it doesn't come right out and say it. He sure was skittish about meeting her again, though!

I laughed at your comment about Claire staying put! I caught this when I read the book originally...couldn't believe that Jamie trusted her to stay behind. He should know that just doesn't happen with Claire.

I was glad that Mr. Willoughby showed up to save Claire, but it was very frustating to know that he had betrayed Jamie after all that Jamie had done for him. Cultural differences are one thing, but loyalty is the same everywhere!

Honestly, for me, the chapter goes down hill from here. All the ritualistic stuff was just too far-fetched for me, though not completely unlikely to have occurred. I'm not sure that I understood its purpose. Do we ever find out why Margaret is with them? Do they consider her to have powers? Other than putting them in touch with Ishmael to find out where Ian and Gellis had gone, I'm not sure the significance of parts of the chapter...maybe just entertainment!

Thanks for the summary!

I also had the impression that something intimate had taken place between Stern and Geillis, but it also sounds like Stern wasn't blinded by love. He seemed to be aware of her tendency to get rid of her male intimates.

By the time the Reverend appears in this chapter, I had all ready figured out that he was the serial killer. DG doesn't explain outright why he would kill those women, but it seemed to me that he he was angered by displays of wantonness. Was he lashing out at those women because he was enraged by his own feelings of lust that he couldn't acknowledge?

I was disappointed in Mr. Willoughby's betrayal of Jamie, but I sympathize with his feelings of anger. He was cast into a society that didn't accept him and didn't perceive him as he saw himself. His whole identity didn't exist in Scotland, and there isn't even anything he could do to ever change that.

I was very bizarre that Margaret appeared in this chapter as an oracle. I really didn't feel that it was believable, and it bothered me a lot. And then Jamie just walks into the voodoo ritual? No, too easy. I was wondering if we were supposed to feel like Claire had inadvertently ingested some drugs that made her hear/see things, but given that Jamie saw it all too....

And what about what Ishmael said - how did he know what magic Geillie would be doing and why did he think it would kill Claire?

What is the significance of Jamie talking to Margaret? Was he trying to establish her sanity?

Sounds like we all found this very funny:



Seriously, Jamie? When has Claire ever stayed put? It's funny, but also made me think back to the more serious exchange at the end of chapter 54, after Claire has been wounded during the pirate attack:



I think Claire has clearly established, beyond all doubt, that that's NOT the kind of wife she is.

The business with the crocodile was scary -- how exactly does one step on a crocodile and live to tell the tale?? I'm happy Claire walked away with all her limbs intact.

I'm assuming that Stern spent a night with Geillie, during which he gave her the information she was after -- but he was smart enough to get away afterward!

I thought the insights into Mr. Willoughby's experiences were quite interesting. Jamie treated him better than any other men had, but even Jamie, without full awareness, treated him as lesser, by changing his name and trying to change him into an acceptable member of society.

I think Jamie talked to Margaret at the end to try to give her closure. She's been tormented for twenty years by Culloden and the memories of the man she loved; perhaps she can find some sort of peace after Jamie tells her that Ewan is fine and sends her love.

It's funny -- after reading Voyager the first time, I'd remembered the voodoo stuff as being a major part of the book, whereas it all really just took place in one chapter. I think I'm in the same boat as many others in regard to this book, where to me it felt like there was too much thrown in that didn't need to be there. Not that I don't find lots to love in Voyager -- the earlier parts having to do with Jamie and Claire's years apart are heartrending in places -- but the later chapters are among my least favorite pieces in the series.

Good job, Meytal! This was definitely the Creepy chapter. First, Stern and Geillie . Next, Willoughby's confession. I also felt sorry for him then. Sometimes, a person is so downcast that you forget that there is a person inside there. We learned earlier how he had to leave the land that he loved and cast out only to come to a place where he was diminished further. He scraped and bowed but all the time seethed inside over the insults. Ok, the Margaret thing was totally creepy and when she started talking "Bree", I wanted out of there! But in a way she finally found the place she was meant to be and where she was considered normal. It was a long journey but she was finally home, I think.

I just managed to finish this chapter. It was a big one! Great job meytal covering lots of ground. And, welcome to summarizing for the re-kilt. It's great to have so many different people involved. [I typed this hours ago and then got sidetracked, so now to continue. . .]

I wasn't quite sure what had happened between Stern and Geillis, but I shuddered at the thought of whatever it might have been.



I completely agree with you and everyone else. I thought the voodoo stuff with Margaret Campbell was both weird and unbelievable and didn't really fit in with the story. It was nice that she found a place to fit and be appreciated (and that she's away from her creepy brother), but this was just bizarre.

I think the Reverend Campbell hated wanton women because he felt that Margaret's wanton behavior around the time of Culloden is what caused her illness. So, he went around killing women he considered wanton. Not sure he considered Claire that way, but I have no doubt that he would have killed her anyway for being married to Jamie whom he blamed, unfairly, for Margaret's condition.

I was sad to discover that Mr. Willoughby betrayed Jamie, but I thought the explanation made a lot of sense and I really felt more sorry for him than truly angry. Mind you, had Jamie been hurt/caught I would have been very angry.



Yeah, right. Reminded me a lot of when Jamie left Claire in the clearing in Outlander and she tried to go to the stones and got caught by Randall. But, the comment about wanting a wife who stays put was probably even more apropos.

Oh, and when Claire finds Brianna's picture, she thinks Geillis was using it as an anchor and that's why Geillis stole it, but as I pointed out in the previous chapter, she took the pic before Claire mentioned that. I think her taking it was related to the prophecy and her ability to find a Fraser heir in the 20th century, but she later decided to use it with the stones to serve as her anchor in time.

It's been hours and in between I went to my Jane Austen Book Club to discuss Emma, so I can't recall what else I may have wanted to say.

I'm glad that I am not the only one. It seemed to me like the end of the book was very rushed, and this chapter in particular seemed out of place.

Great summary. It is always fun getting new people involved in them.

I think the voodoo aspects didn't really bother me as that was very common at the time and in some remote islands, it still is practiced. Margaret as the Oracle was an interesting choice but somehow makes sense in that she was a tortured soul and so more receptive to the 'magic' of the place and events.

I agree with you all that Jamie should never have expected Claire to wait around - just not who she is. If she thinks she can help, she is going to try.

I wasn't surprised either that the Reverend was the murderer - it is often the quiet types and he seemed to have a disdain for women because of his own lust. As for Mr. Willoughby, I hope he found his way home!

There was a lot of action in this chapter, that's for sure!

The voodoo itself didn't bother me. I think it was more of the abrupt way it was introduced, and to me, it didn't make sense. I guess it was a way to direct Claire and Jamie to Geillis, although that part was kind of vague. Ishmael seemed to have some understanding of the magic that Geillis was attempting to do - I wonder why he automatically assumed it would kill both Jamie and Claire.

wow i have so much to say, but i am about to pass out!
writing these re-kilt discussion is not an easy business, but its great never the less.

catch up over the weekend.

meytal, they are fun to do and some of the chapters I think are more difficult just because they contain so much information!

Mary, I understand what you mean about it being abrupt but it sort of had been being alluded to so it was sort of built up when they talked about the run away slaves and such. It was interesting to me that it was Ismael, though.

interesting you mean because Ishmael came back? I was curious about how he fit into all of it, but I think he was interested in started a slave uprising, especially since he asked for the one-armed slave instead of the bag of gold.

TrudyJ:
I am glad i am not the only "newbie". I just wish i had more time these days to write more.

About Stern, maybe she raped him? U think?

Re Claire staying put...I think DG thought this one quite well. She meant for this to happen.

About this chapter...it wasn't easy. But the next chapter was quite the same for me. There was one climax and that was that. I agree with you.

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Mary_Mac:
Re Stern, the way you put it, it sounds like he might be gay? Hmmmmmm

About the Reverend, I think you're right. I guess sort of a seriel killer.

Re the drugs, i forgot that Jamie didn't take any. So i guess it was "real" for both of them.

Could it be that Ishmael is from a different time himself?

I think Jamie was trying to talk to Margaret because he felt sort of responsible for her. But I guess that is Jamie, he is sensitive that way.

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Lisa SF:
Claire is fisty. She always will be. Like I said before, DG knew exactly why she wrote that.

About Stern, how could he just get away from Geillie? She probably just let him go.

I kind of agree with you regarding Jamie & Maraget. But I also feel he felt "responsible" for her.

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audiobooklover:
This was a LONG chapter. Thought it would never end, because I didn't like it so much.
Thanks for the welcoming I hope to do more interesting chapters in the future.

Re the Reverend, he was a wierdo. But like i said before, a seriel killer. Like u said, instead of taking it out on his sister, he killed other women. Aggression i guess.

As for Brianna & Geillie, i am quite sure that Geillie went looking for the legacy. Why else would she need Bree? Geillie wouldn't have hurt Claire otherwise. They have a history together.

thanks again

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TwilightTINK:
Thanks Twilght. Btw, off topic, why do u call urself Twlightink?
Back to the topic...I think Margaret was perfect as an Oracle...insance, but perfect for the position.
This chapter is all about action, but it wasn't the sort of action that made me want to stay.

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Thanks everyone for writing your two cents on this chapter. It was a hard one, but we've made it

I too am a newbie to all of this. I have been patiently waiting to read (and comment) on many of the things due to the 'suggestion' of possible spoiler alerts. Well.. here I am at about week 4 now, reading in small paragraphs at a time in between customers at our business but I finished Voyager.
The Vodoo aspect? personally!? I thought it made perfect sense. Maybe it is because (to me at least) there needed to be a darn good reason for Claire to do something about Geille. Being she is the only one who could cross that 'line' it seemed perfect that the lead in was she was reminded of Brianna. She had thoughts of her and a few heartfelt memories but had made her choice to go back to Jamie and stay. The 'in your face' threat and blunt reminder of Brianna was the IMHO perfect part to send her into action.
I also agree that the Reverand was the most suitable character to be the slasher. As to Willoughby? I understand that it made perfect sense (although it was a shock) but it brought closure to the whole idea.

A-C - I'm impressed that you can manage to read just a paragraph here and there between customers, but good for you!

I agree that bringing Brianna into it certainly was an "in your face" threat that would get Claire to face down Geillis. But, I don't know that the voodoo was necessary to that: Geillis had taken the picture of Bree and was heading to a location where she could potentially travel back to the 20th century where Bree was, so that seemed like plenty of threat, IMO. The acceptance of voodoo in that location among the slaves was not at all surprising, but I thought Margaret Campbell's part in it was pretty strange.