# II explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Fritz Leiber.

## What happens

Jack Barr visits the Kesserich home and is surprised by its lavish interior. Mrs. Kesserich, appearing bovine yet perceptive, reveals that Mary Alice Pope was Martin Kesserich's fiancée who died in a 1933 railway accident. She recounts the story of Martin's intense love for Mary, the jealousy of his sisters Hani and Hilda, and the tragic accident during a ride to meet Martin's train. Martin Kesserich arrives home, interrupting the tale.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Possession

Martin's intense, possessive love for Mary Alice Pope is described as a 'beautiful and yet frightening passion' that directed his every move.

### Violence and Survival

The tragic railway accident results in Mary's violent death, with graphic imagery of her being 'all bloody and shattered'.

## Character check-ins

### Jack Barr

Visits the Kesserich home, learns about Mary Alice Pope from Mrs. Kesserich.

### Mrs. Kesserich

Reveals the story of Mary Alice Pope's death; was Martin's laboratory assistant.

### Mary Alice Pope

Martin Kesserich's deceased fiancée, died in a railway accident in 1933.

### Martin Kesserich

Great biologist, returns home at the end of the chapter.

## Key lines

> Her shapeless black form, poised awkwardly on the edge of a huge sofa, made Jack think of a cow that had strayed into the drawing room.

Jack compares Mrs. Kesserich's appearance to a cow that has wandered into a fancy room.

_Highlights Jack's initial impression of Mrs. Kesserich as out of place and bovine._

> That is Mary Alice Pope. She was Martin's fiancée. She was killed in a railway accident in 1933.

Mrs. Kesserich reveals that the girl in the photograph is Martin's former fiancée, who died in a train accident.

_Key revelation that sets up the backstory._

> It was a beautiful and yet frightening passion, an insane cherishing as narrow and intense as his sisters hatred.

Mrs. Kesserich describes Martin's love as both beautiful and terrifying, as obsessive as his sisters' jealousy.

_Illustrates the theme of love and possession._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters