The Great Divorce

After continuing his difficult walk on the river for about an hour, the narrator eventually makes it to a waterfall. He sees a large tree with gleaming golden apples near the base of the waterfall and, looking closer, realizes that one of the Ghosts is shuffling furtively near it, seemingly trying to get closer without being seen. The narrator recognizes Ikey from the bus; he cannot get to the actual tree because a field of lilies surrounds it, which, in this weighty world, would be too painful for him to traverse. He does, however, attempt to pick up two apples that have fallen and lie scattered near him. The narrator cannot imagine how he can possibly carry them, and indeed, he cannot do so for long; they are so heavy that he quickly gives up and searches for just one small apple to carry.

As he does so, the narrator hears a booming voice that he can only imagine is the waterfall itself. Upon looking more closely, he sees that there appears to be an angel in the waterfall speaking to Ikey, telling him he cannot take the apples to Hell.