Ok, somebody help me here....
You know, I've been thinking about this chapter all day now and there is something about it. It's almost as if the Ennis and Jack in this story have some sort of mutual memory of Brokeback Mountain Jack and Ennis that they cannot put a finger on. They cannot dodge fate, it's as if they know there is has always been something between them and that in their souls they are Brokeback Jack and Ennis, hence the reference to the blood on Jack's t-shirt.
I really don't know how to explain this in English, do I make sense?
You've explained it perfectly and, yes, you make sense!
I know just what you mean. There seems to be a cosmic force pushing them together - something greater than themselves and something neither one of them can comprehend or explain - yet.
Kumari has done a brilliant job of leading us to this chapter - this moment - this
kiss. Always, always, in every second of every scene between Jack and Ennis we've felt that connection, that vibration, just waiting and wanting to be pushed to the surface. . . so many times Jack casually touched Ennis, or made a reason for Ennis to touch him ( how he started eating the crabs and then had to have Ennis role his sleeves up for him). And how Jack
knows Ennis will come to him in his time of need. It was masterfully executed - so subtle but yet so powerful.
I love your comment about the depth of the characters - we know them so well because Kumari has shown us in a million little ways exactly who they are - and yet they are so much more than that- so complex. The depth of the characters brings a depth to the story. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Marie