Summary

Part Five is titled “Everything is Raining.” Chapter Twenty opens with Sophie's arrival on land after almost two weeks in the boat with Wello. Sophie considers her situation, knowing she needs to get past Mbandaka to reach the village where she hopes to find her mother. Otto acts strangely. Sophie can't be certain it's caused by his days in the boat or the fact that they are near the large city of Mbandaka. Sophie begins walking and soon finds some abandoned huts. She encounters two girls who have a gun. At first, she is afraid. Then, she realizes they are in poor condition. She gives them some water, and they tell her that the rebels have taken every able-bodied person to work in a gold mine and have killed almost everyone else. One of the girls tells Sophie about a hunting trail...