Chapter 3 Summary

The odd trio walks out derelict Ellis Road. carrying the tusk to show to reclusive 94-year-old Lanford Ellis at Ellis House, the grandest building on either island. Ruth is sure that he will not see them, even though he has arrived earlier for the summer than usual. As he often does, Simon asks whether Ruth's mother will visit. They then walk on in silence, Ruth marveling at how completely the forest has reclaimed all that had existed on the once-prosperous island. Only the Ellis Granite Company Store in the harbor and Ellis House remain standing. The former is long-abandoned crumbling. The quarries, over 1,000 feet deep are filled with spring water. Remaining locals resent how the Ellises have gutted their islands.

Simon insists that Webster present the tusk to Lanford and receive proper credit. Simon regards Lanford as a decent man and recalls that...