Legend (Legend #1)
Chapter 30: Part Two: June 4
by Marie, Lu,The chapter opens with Thomas attempting to apologize to June for his role in the violent events of the day, particularly his unquestioning obedience to Commander Jameson’s orders. June, however, is deeply disturbed by the sound of machine guns and Thomas’s willingness to carry out executions without hesitation. She reflects on the contrast between the Thomas who once cared for her safety and the one who now follows orders blindly, leaving her to question whether she, too, is complicit by standing by silently. Her internal conflict grows as she grapples with the morality of their actions under the Republic’s authority.
June’s thoughts shift to Day’s claims about the Republic’s corruption, including the poisoning of its own people during the Trials. She dismisses these ideas angrily, recalling her father and brother’s involvement in the system. To distract herself, she turns to her late brother Metias’s journals, which recount mundane details of his life, offering her fleeting comfort. As she reads, she is overwhelmed by grief and falls asleep, dreaming of Day, who insists he did not kill Metias. This dream reignites her doubts about the official narrative of her brother’s death.
Upon waking, June revisits the crime report from Metias’s murder, focusing on the photos she had previously avoided. She notices inconsistencies, such as the lack of close-up shots of the wounds and the odd angle of the images. The knife’s hilt appears to have rifle grease marks, sparking a disturbing memory of Thomas’s grease-streaked forehead. June begins to suspect the report was deliberately altered, though she struggles to reconcile this with her trust in Commander Jameson, who had shown apparent respect for Metias. The incomplete evidence leaves her frustrated and questioning the truth.
The chapter ends with June’s growing suspicion that key details of Metias’s death were hidden from her. The discovery of the grease marks on the knife hilt raises unsettling questions about Thomas’s potential involvement. June’s faith in the Republic wavers as she confronts the possibility of a cover-up, leaving her torn between loyalty to the system and her desire for justice. Her investigation into Metias’s murder becomes a catalyst for deeper doubts about the regime she once unquestioningly served.
FAQs
1. How does June’s perception of Thomas evolve throughout this chapter, and what internal conflict does this create for her?
Answer:
June’s perception of Thomas shifts from seeing him as a protective, disciplined soldier to questioning his blind obedience to authority. While she acknowledges his genuine concern for her safety (“He was trying to protect me”), she grapples with his unwavering compliance during the square massacre and her brother’s death (“He’d carried out the extermination as if it were routine”). This creates an internal conflict as June wonders if her own inaction makes her complicit (“Does that make me the same as Thomas?”). The chapter highlights her growing disillusionment with the Republic’s orders and her struggle to reconcile Thomas’s kindness with his capacity for violence.2. What evidence does June discover that challenges the official narrative of Metias’s death, and why is this significant?
Answer:
June notices inconsistencies in the crime scene photos: the lack of close-up wound details, the angled shots obscuring Metias’s shoulder injury, and black marks on the knife hilt resembling rifle grease—a detail tied to Thomas. These omissions suggest the report was deliberately incomplete, implying a cover-up. This is significant because it undermines June’s trust in Commander Jameson and the Republic’s integrity, while supporting Day’s claim of innocence. The discovery propels June to question whether her brother’s murder was orchestrated by those within their own ranks, adding complexity to her investigation.3. Analyze how June’s interaction with Metias’s journals serves as both a comfort and a catalyst for her investigation.
Answer:
The journals initially comfort June by preserving Metias’s voice—his mundane complaints and humor (“I can barely stay awake”) evoke nostalgic warmth, easing her grief. However, they also contrast sharply with his violent death, reminding her of the life stolen from him. This contrast fuels her determination to seek justice. The journals’ tangible presence (“strewn on the coffee table”) symbolizes unresolved questions, pushing her to re-examine the crime photos. Their ordinariness heightens the injustice of his death, transforming her sorrow into investigative resolve.4. How does the chapter use Day’s appearance in June’s dream to advance the thematic tension between truth and loyalty?
Answer:
The dream sequence juxtaposes Day’s physical tenderness (“He holds my hands”) with his verbal plea of innocence, forcing June to confront her cognitive dissonance. His blood-streaked hair visually merges violence and vulnerability, mirroring June’s conflict between her loyalty to the Republic (“Surely the Republic knows best?”) and emerging doubts about its honesty. The dream’s emotional intensity—contrasted with Thomas’s hollow apologies outside her door—frames truth as a destabilizing force. It foreshadows June’s eventual choice between blind allegiance and pursuing Metias’s true killer, even if it implicates her own comrades.5. Evaluate the significance of the rifle grease detail on the knife. What might it imply about Thomas’s role in Metias’s death?
Answer:
The grease marks suggest the knife was handled by someone familiar with firearms maintenance—like Thomas, whom June recalls had grease on his forehead. This detail implies Thomas may have planted or manipulated the weapon to frame Day. Given Thomas’s unwavering obedience to Commander Jameson, the grease could link her to the murder as well. The observation deepens the chapter’s theme of betrayal, showing how authority figures exploit loyalty to conceal crimes. It also marks a turning point for June, as physical evidence begins to outweigh institutional trust in her quest for truth.
Quotes
1. “The Thomas that follows Commander Jameson’s orders without question is a different Thomas from the one who worried about my safety in the Lake sector.”
This quote captures June’s internal conflict about Thomas’s character, highlighting the duality of his personality—the compassionate friend versus the obedient soldier. It represents a key turning point in her questioning of blind loyalty to the Republic’s authority.
2. “Does that make me the same as Thomas? Are we doing the right thing by following our orders? Surely the Republic knows best?”
This moment shows June’s moral awakening as she begins to question the system she’s always trusted. The quote is significant as it marks her first serious doubts about the Republic’s infallibility and her own complicity.
3. “I didn’t kill your brother. I promise you, I couldn’t have.”
Day’s dream declaration represents a crucial plot point and June’s subconscious grappling with alternative truths about her brother’s death. This haunting statement plants the seed for her later investigation into Metias’s murder.
4. “What if Commander Jameson took them out to hide something from me?”
This realization marks a pivotal investigative breakthrough for June, shifting her from grief to active suspicion. The quote shows her transition from obedient soldier to independent thinker questioning her superiors’ motives.
5. “These black marks look like rifle grease. Almost like the streak of grease that was on Thomas’s forehead when…”
The chapter ends with this chilling observation that connects Thomas to potential evidence tampering. This cliffhanger quote creates dramatic tension and foreshadows future revelations about Metias’s death.