Outlander Book Club: The Fiery Cross Chapter 109 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with Claire talking about why the women are at the Big House. They’re preparing for Lizzie’s wedding since she doesn’t have a mother to do this part for her. However, everything stops when Young Ian returns. Naturally, Lizzie is very happy to see Young Ian.

We don’t get to find out why Young Ian has returned. He just makes it clear that he and Rollo are back, and Emily isn’t with him.

Once Claire and Jamie get a chance to talk, they find out about the book that Young Ian was given by the Mohawk. The book is written with a ballpoint pen and is by Otter Tooth. It turns out that he and some friends tried to travel together, but he has been separated from them and doesn’t know where they are. He also doesn’t know the time period he’s in, but he knows that he’s later than he wanted to be. He wanted to arrive sometime in the 1650s.

While reading all this, Ian brings up that the woman who gave him the book said that Otter Tooth was Claire’s family. That was the best way Claire could describe him considering it was hard to explain time travelers to anyone else. We know in a way they are all connected genealogically.

That’s when the discussion of genes comes up. Claire and Jamie can roll their tongues, but Brianna and Roger can’t. Claire explains why this is in terms of how genetics are passed down. What about Jemmy? He can’t roll his tongue.

There is a mention of a “Raymond,” who told him and his friends about time travel and how they would need gemstones. However, it doesn’t look like Raymond shared all the details. Claire does wonder if this is the same Raymond she met in Paris.

When Otter Tooth writes down the name he was given, Brianna realizes that she recognizes it. He was one of the Montauk Five. They were activists and ended up arrested. While they were out on bail, they disappeared. One of the five did turn up alive, but nobody knew what happened to the others. Now we know what happened to one of them, and it’s easy to guess what happened to the others.

All of this is how Young Ian learns the truth about time travel. Well, he learns a little. There is still a lot for him to find out still.

Eventually, Jemmy gets his hands on the opal that Claire got from Otter Tooth’s remains. He says that it’s hot and suddenly all the time travelers can hear a high-pitched sound. The opal suddenly explodes. Jamie and Young Ian make it clear they didn’t hear anything.

Jamie gets some of the gemstones that they have in the house. They’re cool for him and Ian to touch. Claire, Brianna, and Roger find them warm. Jemmy finds them hot. There is something in this.