SPOILER
I'm unsure about Rob's affair with Ennis, too. Ennis had already been having a long-term relationship with Tom, so whether Ennis said the words out loud or not, I think he already knew he was gay, he just wouldn't admit it out loud to anyone. I'm not sure if the affair with Rob was part of a plan to finally get Ennis to admit it, or if Ennis was so overwhelmed by the feeling of Jack's presence in Rob that he couldn't resist him. I wasn't sure if Ennis would have the affair with Rob if he really believed there was a chance Jack was still alive - but, again, I guess that's where the eye color thing comes in? I did like how Rob's eyes changed back to green at the end, too! I'll admit to being very surprised at the end - in a good way - I never actually believed Jack was still alive!
Marie
**Spoilers**
Heya,
Yes, I was also pleasantly surprised to find that Jack was still alive. And, like you, I was thinking that Rob had somehow "morphed" into a Jack-like figure... or your idea that Jack's energy was transferred to Rob during the attack also was along the lines of what I was expecting. I honestly was expecting some kind of ending where Ennis would end up with Rob and in a way that Ennis could accept and be comfortable with (though of course I'm much happier that it's Jack).
The thing that keeps me wondering... is if Ennis had any notion that Jack was alive (and he does at least have this faith... if not firm belief... following his early encounter with Jack on the mountain when he received Jack's package/notes)... why would he conduct an affair with another man? I mean he was in a relationship with Tom, but I'm assuming that this was during a phase when he truly believed that Jack was dead. I mean, the whole point of Ennis's journey was to carry out Jack's instructions and hopefully find his way back to an alive-Jack. The comfort with which he seems to carry out the affair with Rob is just really striking. That's why I thought Rob would be "it" at the end (and a new Jack-like figure). I sort of thought that Jack's package/notes/gift would end up being something metaphorical... like giving Ennis the gift to move on and be comfortable with himself.
If Rob was sort of given Jack's blessing to engage in an affair with Ennis... then that's *really* interesting. It seems that Ennis's journey was all about Ennis getting over many of his "demons" (Earl, his parents' death, etc.). And, it seems that Ennis's denial of his sexuality (even a good way through this story) was definitely one of his "demons." If Jack wanted Ennis to come back to him only if he'd worked some of his issues out... it seems that coming to terms with the fact that he's gay would be a big component of this. Maybe having had an affair with both Tom, Rob and Jack was enough for Ennis to really face this about himself.
Anyway, I thought this was just a lovely story and written in such a unique way.