Washington Black

The hanging still disturbs Wash, and he reflects that Willard had “lived his whole life in avoidable savagery” (337). Wash is newly determined to travel to Amsterdam to find Titch. Wishing to accompany him, Tanna invents an imaginary visit to her Aunt Judith so that Mr. Goff might let her go.

In Amsterdam, Wash and Tanna visit the specimen of a conjoined porpoise and then seek out Peter’s house. A manservant greets them at the door, and then a young man who identifies himself as Peter Haas, the son of Peter Haas, welcomes them inside after Wash mentions Mr. Wilde. The young Peter leads the old Peter out to meet them, and Peter and Wash embrace.

While young Peter translates, the two men exchange information about Titch. Peter explains that Titch has visited but is now gone, and that Titch was not himself while in Amsterdam. Titch has become obsessed with supernatural experiences and the astral plane, and according to Peter “has passed from a place of inquiry to a place of uncontested belief” (343). Peter last received a letter from Titch from Morocco, and encourages Wash and Tanna to seek him out there.