Summary

Pages 325 - 351 -- The wife meets Didier at the local pub and tells him that she wants to separate, and that she is going to stay with her parents tomorrow. He seems saddened at first, but then reacts with anger. The wife feels drawn to the earth, and begins tasting handfuls of dirt.

The perspective shifts to the biographer, who reflects upon why Eivor Minervudottir is important to her, as well as her sense of disappointment at finding herself without a child. She remembers the scene of Archie's death from a heroin overdose, and decides she will visit her father in Florida.

The novel moves to Eivor, who is on a ship bound for Fort Canger. The ship becomes trapped in ice, until ice smashes into the side of the ship, which will cause it to sink.

The perspective picks up with the mender...