Looking for Alaska

In class, Dr. Hyde cites Karl Marx’s statement that religion is ‘the opiate of the masses,’ but he outlines a Sufi story that challenges the idea that people only have faith because they need an opiate. In this story, a Sufi woman is running through the streets of Basra with a bucket of water and a torch. When asked what she is doing, she says that she is going to douse the flames of hell and burn down the gates of paradise so that people will love God because He is God—not for fear of hell or want of heaven. Even after hearing this story, the afterlife matters to Miles, and he not only wants to know what happened to Alaska, he wants to know where she is now. He likes to imagine her looking down on him, but he finds it hard to think of her as anything but dead.

Miles meets Takumi for lunch, and Takumi says that he is missing Alaska. Miles says that he is sorry, and, inwardly, he is sorry for having avoided Takumi out of guilt. Takumi asks if Miles is still dating Lara, and he replies that he does not think so—he has been avoiding her since Alaska’s death. Takumi tries to say something appropriate in the face of the tragedy that they have experienced, but he is unable to say anything other than “It sucks, huh?” (175).

As part of his investigation, the Colonel has decided that they will need alcohol and a breathalyzer. The Eagle has a breathalyzer and they need to borrow it from him without his knowledge. They have also run out of alcohol and ask Takumi if he has any supplies. When he asks them why they need it, they say that they want to get drunk and he says that he will join them. The Colonel’s reply, “we need to do this alone” (176), annoys him, and he says that he has had enough of being left out. The Colonel explains that what they are doing is dangerous, and he does not want Takumi to get caught up in it. Takumi, however, points out that Alaska was his friend, too. The Colonel then vows that they will tell him everything tomorrow, and he hands Miles a bottle.

As they walk back to the dorm room, Miles says that Takumi will hate them if he knows the truth, but the Colonel says that he will hate them all the more if they keep pretending he does not exist.

Fifteen minutes later, Miles keeps the Eagle occupied while the Colonel steals his breathalyzer. Miles claims that the Colonel is struggling with his classes and is awake all night thinking of Alaska. As the Eagle starts walking towards the living room, Miles panics and asks “Is that burner on?” (178)—when it clearly is not. The Eagle then dashes into the living room but there is no one there. He asks Miles if he is up to something, but Miles claims that he is just concerned about the Colonel. The Eagle expresses his sympathy but says that Alaska would have wanted the Colonel to continue his studies.

Miles then meets up with the Colonel, who has obtained the breathalyzer. The Colonel spends the rest of the night getting extremely drunk and finally blows into the breathalyzer. His reading is still only two-thirds of what they are aiming for, but, as he resumes drinking, the Eagle knocks on the door; Miles and the Colonel had left it until 1 a.m. to start their experiment, as they thought that no one would be awake then. Panicking, Miles lights a cigarette in the hope that the smoke will cover up the smell of alcohol. He then tells the Colonel to cry.

When the Eagle enters, he sees the Colonel sobbing and being comforted by Miles. Miles says that the Colonel is having a tough night, but the Eagle asks whether he has been smoking. Miles apologizes and puts out the cigarette, but, while the Eagle sympathizes with their grief, he will not tolerate rule-breaking and says that he will see Miles in Jury tomorrow. Before leaving, he tells them that they can leave the lights on until they are ready to go to bed. Miles says goodnight, and imagines the Colonel sneaking the breathalyzer back into the Eagle’s house while he is at Jury.

An hour later, the Colonel manages to reach the level of inebriation that Alaska’s test had shown, and Miles gives him the same sobriety test that a police officer would carry out. The Colonel fails to walk in a straight line and, when Miles asks about depth perception, he says that everything is spinning but he does not believe he would accidentally drive into a police car, nor could he even drive in such a state. Ultimately, though, he thinks he would have been able to see, and Miles concludes that they have their evidence. The Colonel suggests that maybe Alaska fell asleep, as he feels very sleepy. Miles replies that they will find out, but the Colonel says that they will not find out tonight—he is going to be sick and then sleep off his hangover.

Miles has been managed to keep up with his classes enough to maintain a B– grade, but he does not really care anymore. He is more concerned with the significance of the white tulips.

When Miles returns from Jury, he finds that the Colonel has told Takumi virtually everything, though he has not mentioned the kiss with Alaska. Takumi had already figured out that they had set off the firecrackers, which he says was a dumb move, but he concludes that, really, they all let Alaska go. Miles wonders what he means by this, but Takumi then asks if they think it was suicide. Miles replies that it is possible, as they do not see how she could have hit the police car unless she was asleep.

The Colonel then reiterates that Jake may have some answers, and Miles agrees to the Colonel questioning him; as long as he does not report back any details that are not relevant. Both he and Takumi just want to know where Alaska was going and why.

While the Colonel is talking to Jake on the phone, Takumi and Miles get into a conversation. Miles claims that he wants to know what happened to Alaska, but Takumi questions whether he wants to know the truth or whether he wants to hear that Alaska had fallen for him and was on her way to break up with Jake. When Miles asks if Takumi is angry, Takumi states that he is not angry at Miles for letting Alaska go, but for acting like he has a monopoly over her affections.

Miles then reveals that Alaska kissed him that night, and Takumi seems startled by this revelation. They stare at each other in silence until Miles, who feels ashamed of bragging, says that it was probably just one of Alaska’s impulsive moments. Takumi finally replies that he does not blame Miles for kissing her, and he agrees not to tell Lara.

When the Colonel returns, he explains that Jake gave Alaska the tulips and they did not fight—he had called to mark their eight-month anniversary. They had talked for five minutes when she suddenly became frantic. The Colonel asked Jake to elaborate, and he recalled that Alaska had been quiet for some moments. When he asked her what she was doing, she replied that she was doodling. It was then that she seemed to realize something, and she started sobbing. She told Jake that she would talk to him later, but Jake does not believe that she was driving to see him.

Miles notes that Alaska told Jake that she would talk to him later, as well as saying “To be continued” to him. He and the Colonel observe that these remarks seem inconsistent with suicide and that they have not found any real answers. All they know is where she was not going.

They try to recollect exactly what happened prior to Alaska’s departure on that night but find it difficult. Not only was the Colonel drunk, they had not paid much attention to their conversations prior to the game of Truth or Dare. The Colonel says that the phone call to Jake must be significant and their next step is to figure out why.