This is not 'which way to Cartagena?' more 'which way to Carol?'
He begins his journey in Paraguay, where he survives the alien Joining by hiding in a storage facility. Determined to reach Carol Sturka in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he sets off alone in his small MG Midget convertible, armed only with paper maps and basic supplies.
In an extended montage, Manousos drives north across South America, likely passing through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and into Colombia, entirely without outside assistance.
Along the way he siphons gasoline from abandoned cars, leaving cash behind each time, and forages for food and water. He steadfastly refuses every offer of help from the hive-minded Others.
Along the way he siphons gasoline from abandoned cars, leaving cash behind each time, and forages for food and water. He steadfastly refuses every offer of help from the hive-minded Others.
At one point, a representative of the Joined attempts to persuade him to allow transport directly to New Mexico, car included. Manousos rejects the offer outright. He makes it clear that nothing offered by the alien collective is truly theirs to give, and that accepting help would mean accepting theft. His refusal is not practical, it is moral.
By roughly the third week of travel, Manousos reaches the northern limit of drivable roads in South America, the Darién Gap on the Colombia–Panama border.
By roughly the third week of travel, Manousos reaches the northern limit of drivable roads in South America, the Darién Gap on the Colombia–Panama border.
This is a dense, roadless jungle where the Pan-American Highway abruptly ends. There is no continuous overland route beyond this point, something Manousos understood from the start. Despite the danger, he chooses to continue on foot rather than allow the Others to carry him across.
A local man, controlled by the Hive, warns him of what lies ahead: extreme heat, venomous animals, disease, and lethal terrain. He urges Manousos to turn back or accept assistance. Manousos refuses. Standing at the edge of the jungle, he burns his car in an act that feels both ritualistic and defiant. Carrying only a machete and a backpack, he walks into the rainforest.
Crossing the Darién Gap
Manousos moves through the Darién Gap alone, repeating his mantra to keep himself grounded: his name, his identity, his purpose. The crossing is as brutal as expected. He hacks through thick undergrowth, collects rainwater rather than drink anything provided by the Hive, and sleeps wherever shelter can be found, abandoned churches, open ground, the jungle floor.
For a time, sheer determination sustains him. He fishes from streams, survives on minimal food, and listens to English language tapes to keep his mind engaged. The jungle eventually takes its toll. He slips on wet rocks and falls backward into a spiny palm, impaling himself on long, toxic thorns. The wounds quickly become infected.
With no other option, Manousos heats his machete blade over a fire and cauterizes the puncture wounds himself, biting down on his belt to endure the pain. He survives the night, but by the following day he is delirious with fever and collapses, barely conscious.
At that moment, a helicopter appears overhead. The Hive has been monitoring his progress and intervenes to prevent his death. A medic is lowered to treat him against his wishes. The seventh episode of Pluribus ends in uncertainty, leaving it unclear whether Manousos will accept evacuation or insist on remaining independent.
DEAR READR: WE NOW ASSUME A FEW THINGS...
Once recovered, Manousos would emerge on the Panamanian side of the Darién Gap near the end of the highway system. From that point forward, the route north becomes continuous. Assuming he acquires another vehicle, whether scavenged or quietly left behind, he can follow the Pan-American Highway through Central America and Mexico all the way to the United States.
In Panama, he would drive northwest from the jungle edge toward Panama City, crossing the canal and continuing to the Costa Rica border. Costa Rica offers an uninterrupted highway running the length of the country, passing near the capital before reaching Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is a relatively short transit. He would pass Lake Nicaragua and Managua before reaching the border with Honduras. The highway clips the southern edge of Honduras, offering either a brief passage through that country or a quick transition into El Salvador. In a world emptied of traffic, these distinctions matter less than endurance and fuel.
From there, all roads converge through Guatemala. Manousos would cross the country southeast to northwest, passing near or around Guatemala City before reaching the Mexican border in the south.
Mexico represents the longest remaining stretch. From southern Mexico, he would likely head toward the central plateau, using major highways that radiate north. Mexico City becomes a natural waypoint, after which he could continue north through the interior toward the border. The most direct path into New Mexico runs through northern Mexico to Ciudad Juárez, crossing into El Paso and then driving north into New Mexico.
Once in the United States, the final leg is straightforward. Interstate highways lead directly north to Albuquerque. After weeks of isolation, refusal, injury, and stubborn persistence, Manousos would finally reach the city where Carol lives - will he be in time to take part in her plan?
