21

Jonas’s confidence in the escape plan unravels at the evening meal when Father reveals that Gabriel cried all night at the Nurturing Center and has been scheduled for release the next morning. Realizing Gabriel will be killed, Jonas decides to flee immediately, earlier than planned, without receiving the extra memories of strength and courage from The Giver.

That night Jonas leaves the dwelling, steals leftover food and Father’s bicycle because it has a child seat, and takes Gabriel. He rides over the river bridge without fear but with sadness, silently saying goodbye to The Giver in hope he will hear it.

By dawn, Jonas hides the bicycle, feeds Gabriel from the stolen food, and uses a memory of a hammock by the sea to soothe him to sleep. Jonas and Gabriel sleep hidden by day and travel by night, repeating this pattern for days as the communities thin and the distances widen.

Search planes begin sweeping low using heat-seeking technology Jonas learned about in school. To avoid detection, Jonas transmits memories of snow to Gabriel and keeps some for himself, lowering their body heat whenever aircraft approach. The effort leaves the memories feeling shallower as he moves farther from the community, aligning with the plan that memories would return to the people.

Jonas grows stronger from the constant cycling, briefly stopping at night to let Gabriel exercise before continuing. He remains vigilant for cover whenever engines sound. Gradually, the planes come less frequently and with less care, until a full day and night pass without any aircraft, signaling that the search is fading as Jonas and Gabriel press farther away.