The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: Book 3, Chapter 35 Summary & Analysis

Toru approaches the door, and the knocking ceases. The door opens with a creak, and a man enters quietly, closing it behind him. He stands near the door, breathing heavily, while Toru waits anxiously. Recalling Mamiya’s letter, Toru reminds himself not to let his imagination run wild and to avoid conjuring any unwanted thoughts. The man ignites a dim flashlight, and a fight ensues between him and Toru in the darkness. In the struggle, the man slashes Toru’s face with a knife, hitting his mysterious blemish. Toru retaliates by swinging his bat, and he manages to hit the man. After hitting the man for the first time, he swings again, which results in the cracking of bones.

Toru grabs the flashlight to inspect the fallen body, but the mysterious woman pleads with him not to do so. He heeds her warning and feels a surge of nausea, which causes him to vomit repeatedly until there is nothing left in his stomach. Toru tells the woman that they must go. However, when he looks up, he sees that she is no longer on the bed; she has disappeared. Toru sits for a moment, reflecting on his failure. He had taken a life in an attempt to bring Kumiko back, but now Kumiko is gone.

Upon awakening, Toru finds himself at the bottom of a well that is gradually filling with water, and Toru cannot move. Memories of Mr. Honda’s prophecy about water resurface in Toru’s mind. Determined, Toru decides to reactivate his imagination, and he envisions May opening the well’s cover. Suddenly, he hears May’s voice calling out to him.

May asks if he is afraid of dying, and Toru says that he is. May says she is sorry, but she cannot help him. Then she proceeds to close the well. Toru calls her name desperately, but it is no use. The water rises, reaching Toru’s neck as he struggles to come to terms with his impending death. As the water engulfs his mouth and nose, Toru begins to drown.