The House in the Cerulean Sea

Linus and Zoe take the ferry to run errands and so Linus can mail his first report to EUM. The fare has doubled. Linus puts the ferry operator, Merle, in his place when he begins to say discriminatory things. The postmaster says more discriminatory things; Linus speaks cuttingly to him as well. Linus receives a message from Werner reminding him to leave nothing out of his reports. The grocer charges Zoe extra for meat. Back on the island, Linus puts on the practical clothing Zoe bought him to wear while accompanying the children on their monthly adventure: tan shorts, a tan button-up shirt (with several top buttons missing), high socks, and sturdy boots. Linus is mortified but musters the nerve to join the children, who are wearing similar outfits.

Lucy leads Linus, Arthur, and the other children on an expedition to find and steal the treasure of the “murderous” island sprite. As they follow Lucy’s course, Arthur and Linus discuss the order and methods suggested by DICOMY; Linus points out that experts formulated the rules and regulations. Arthur counters by saying that no magical people were consulted in the formation of the departments that handle them. Linus is persuaded by Arthur’s arguments against registration, assimilation, and marginalization. Linus argues in favor of taking the children off the island sometimes.

The children send Arthur ahead into a foreboding stretch of forest. When he doesn’t return, they nominate Linus to lead them in for the rescue. They locate Arthur at Zoe’s cabin, where they have a nice lunch. It is a significant honor to be allowed into a sprite’s home. Linus respectfully waits for a real invitation before entering. After lunch, Phee and Zoe allow him to observe as they commune with the island’s flowers and trees. 

This chapter opens with a partial draft of Linus’s second report to EUM. He reflects on nature versus nurture, expresses respect for Arthur’s merits, questions the source of funding for the payments made to the villagers to ensure their silence about the children’s extreme unusualness, and states that he will propose a day trip to the island. Calliope steals one of Linus’s ties and uses it to lead him to a padlocked door nestled at the basement level of the house.

Arthur continues to spend time with each child individually and grows fond of them. Theodore is particularly attached to him. Even Sal comes to Linus’s guest house with an invitation to tour his room. The room is simple and un-personalized, other than a few stacks of classic literature here and there. In his closet is a desk with a typewriter; Sal loves to write and does so beautifully. Now that Sal is more settled and confident in himself and his stay at Marsyas, he asks Linus to help him move the desk in front of the window in the bedroom. 

Arthur brings Linus a vintage portable record player that Lucy found, cleaned, and wanted to give to him. They put on music and talk. Arthur tells Linus that he helped Sal to heal with their earlier conversation. Linus tells Arthur that he believes they should take the children on a day trip to the village. Arthur is worried about the discrimination and insults the children will face but agrees. They share a moment of romantic tension, and then Arthur leaves. Linus sees a flash of bright orange light through the windows, but nothing is outside when he looks.

Zoe and Linus go to the village again. Linus mails his second report and receives another correspondence from Werner, who chastises Linus for his criticism of EUM as well as for a lack of reported detail on Arthur. Werther also warns that Arthur has secrets. On the way back to the island, Linus observes to Zoe that Arthur is unusual and tells her that Arthur knew about the incident with the message on the raft without having been told.