The Handmaid's Tale, #2
The Testaments
by Margaret Atwood
Contents
57
Overview
Summoned by Aunt Lydia, Jade/Nicole learns Lydia orchestrated her GOD/LOVE tattoo and confirms her identity as Baby Nicole. Lydia implants a microscopic message inside the tattoo to smuggle intelligence to Canada. She orders strict secrecy and warns that Aunt Vidala is eager for Corrections, heightening the stakes.
Summary
On a Wednesday, Jade receives an urgent summons to Aunt Lydia’s office and anxiously wonders if she is in trouble. Lydia greets her coolly, questions her adjustment to Ardua Hall, and warns Jade against flippancy that could draw dangerous attention.
Lydia asks to see Jade’s arm, revealing she was the one who requested the GOD/LOVE tattoo. Lydia confirms Jade is Baby Nicole and presses her to help friends in Canada, framing it as a limited choice in a constrained world.
To enable this mission, Lydia nicks the tattoo at the base of the O and inserts a tiny object, turning Jade into a covert courier. Lydia explains that no one would think to look inside “GOD,” instructs absolute secrecy, and reminds Jade that even minor lapses can trigger denunciations.
Before dismissing her, Lydia underscores the danger by noting Aunt Vidala’s zeal for Corrections. Jade leaves aware she carries a hidden, lethal secret in her arm and a new, risky purpose: to transport Lydia’s message out of Gilead.
Who Appears
- Jade (Baby Nicole)Summoned by Lydia; reveals tattoo; receives implanted micro-message; tasked to smuggle information to Canada.
- Aunt LydiaConfirms Jade’s identity; orchestrated tattoo; implants hidden message; orders secrecy; warns about Vidala.
- Aunt VictoriaOffers cautious reassurance before Jade’s meeting, hinting Lydia’s intentions are unpredictable.
- Aunt VidalaOffstage threat; noted for zeal in Corrections, heightening Jade’s risk if she slips.