How does Robey find his father? How likely is it that Robey simply rode out and then happened upon his father many hundreds of miles away? How does the novel explain Robey's ability to find his father?

Robey meets an upside-down boy, that always walks on his hands. This behavior apparently is continuous. What does the boy symbolize within the narrative structure? Why is it significant that Robey meets the boy just as he departs home?

In Chapter 3 Robey sees a group of slaves being taken south. The slavers are particularly noted as being an odd assortment of strange men. Why do you think the narrative presents the slavers as a curious rabble instead of an organized military unit?

In Chapter 5, Robey meets a grizzled veteran who admits to being a sometimes cannibal; he also admits to developing a real fondness, almost a yearning...