Outlander Book Club: Voyager Chapter 56 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

Claire wakes from a nap in need of penicillin in this chapter. She realizes that she can’t fight off the infection from the wound in her arm, especially when she has no idea what the cutlass was used on before slicing her arm.

While she struggles to get to the needle, Jamie walks in. He agrees to give her the shot, initially finding it funny. However, when it comes to sticking the needle in Claire’s behind, he falters. Claire does it, but it’s clumsy with her left hand. While she gets the needle in, she can’t use the plunger properly. Jamie takes care of that.

It brings up a memory of Claire’s time at the hospital. It’s the memory of Graham Menzies, a Scottish man with cancer in his leg. He has to have the leg amputated but the cancer has spread too much. In the end, Graham wants to die and he wants Claire to help him.

They find a way to prevent Claire getting caught. However, a young nurse does see her and she, naturally, talks. It’s Claire’s word against the nurse, and Claire is able to keep her job. She’s even given a promotion, which is more to keep her away from patients.

While on extended leave, Claire takes Brianna to Scotland, and that’s how we catch up with Claire and Brianna meeting Roger at the start of Dragonfly in Amber. Had Claire never been forced to take the vacation, she may never have ended up back with Jamie.

Claire and Jamie then get a chance to talk about what is next for them. Where will they go. Claire asks one question that Jamie has never been asked before—what does he want to do. He’s always thought of others, but now it’s time to put his feelings first.

He can’t go back to Scotland with the warrant out for his arrest. So, they consider the colonies. Jamie doesn’t want to go there because of the things he’s read. He’s heard that the Iroquois tribe is known for cannabilism, and he would never want to take Claire to such a place.

There are towns, though, Claire points out. And even if the Iroquois stories are true (Claire can’t say for certain), there are other tribes that are not as dangerous. Claire even suggests that they get Jamie’s printing press from Scotland and set up a printing business somewhere in the colonies. There will be a call for that.

I do like how Claire points out that she did a lot of research into England, Scotland, and France during the time period. She expected to potentially be in any of those three countries. She never looked into the colonies, though.

Finally, the chapter ends with Jamie bringing Claire some turtle soup. She gets drunk off the sherry in the soup and the two end up making love. Of course, they’re interrupted by Lawrence Stern who doesn’t seem to know when to leave!