The chapter opens with a description of the crazy religious cult that's been terrorizing the U.S. since the fall of the Bastille. The narrator tells us that the group's leader has just killed himself in front of them, and that the public is now watching their every movement. The public will witness their great achievement, which means that they'll finally be chased into "the depths of despair" . The group is planning a big party to celebrate their victory, and they've got a recipe for shochu, a fermented drink made from rice, barley, and sweet potato. They're going to have a lot of different people in the party, and the food will be delicious, but they're not going to be able to eat it all.