Great chapter as always, Jenni. What a writer you are!
One thing that impressed me particularly is how well you do your A-plot here. I'm talking about how you make us see and understand the mudslide and all the terribly hard, long, slow and heartbreaking work that has to be done there. Showing us this and keeping us interested all the time is such an achievement. To me, this is testament to your general knowledge of things in the world, as well as to your empathy and understanding.
I, too, had expected father and son to recognize one another right away, but I don't mind the fact that they did not, and that they still haven't. Not only is Clark covered in mud and grime, but his years of suffering must have aged and changed his appearance. And Matt's appearance has obviously changed too, though for happier reasons. And of course, he's wearing a cowl.
The way you set this story up, it would actually be possible for Matt to return home without his father! Well, Mac and Marje might want to stay in China, and they are the closest thing to a family that Clark has right now. He doesn't even know for sure that he belongs in the United States at all, let alone where in the United States. And as we've seen, Matt and Clark don't recognize each other. However, luckily you brought Adrienne and Stephan back into the story. Surely they will recognize Clark and tell Matt who "Letour" is?
One truly beautiful thing about this chapter is how you showed us how Clark encouraged his son and kept him going. It was so beautiful to see how Clark's compassion seemed to be greater than anyone else's and how he would just keep doing everything he could to help others - and how that compassion helped his son cope with his terrible tasks, too.
So beautiful, Jenni.
Ann
