Outlander Book Club: Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone Chapter 8 breakdown
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with everyday life at the Ridge. There is a mention of a respiratory infection, and I can’t help but wonder if this was thrown in during an edit during the pandemic. Is it possible that it was a nod to COVID-19? Of course, illness spread easily, so it would be an easy nod to add in.
Roger goes to visit Captain Cunningham and his mother. They are Methodists, and Cunningham’s mother is not happy about Bree being a Catholic. She also dislikes Claire, knowing her to be a witch. Roger makes it clear that he won’t stand for any negative talk about his wife, but he does it in a way that doesn’t burn a lot of bridges.
However, it’s clear that we should look out for Cunningham. The arrival of an Indian killer, Cleveland, also suggests this. Claire had been looking out for a tinker, who Germain had mentioned when he was carrying a dead snake and looking to make a belt out of it. Sweet Germain has a crush, it seems. Jamie doesn’t like the Indian killer, but Cleveland makes it clear that Cunningham needs to watch what he’s printing, and it’s up to Jamie to warn him.
After all this, Roger and Jamie are discussing the number of privies that need to be dug. This gives Roger time to tell Jamie everything about Lallybroch, meeting Brian and Jenny, going to Fort William, and having Buck help him. There is something that comes up in all of this—as well as the discussion of Brian’s spirit being with them. Jamie will need to warn Jenny about Roger.
Jenny is sure to be shocked to see Roger in this time period. Roger won’t have changed his appearance, but Jenny has aged 40 years. This is sure to make it clear that time travel is possible. Jamie brings this up with Claire, and Claire suggests having a dram for the story.
Jenny is smart. Jamie just tells it to her straight, although gently. Jenny is able to put all the pieces together, realizing that Jemmy is the same Jemmy Roger was looking for in 1739. Roger is also the same Roger.
When Jenny meets Roger, Roger has more to share. Brianna met Brian. We’d seen Brian meet Brianna, but didn’t know much more. Jenny and Jamie have a chance to hear the love that Brian still had for his wife and how he thought Bree was Ellen back from the grave. It’s such a quiet moment of love.