Summary

Christine narrates Joan's childhood in Domrémy-la-Pucelle, France. One day Joan, age 10, puts her fingers in the dirt and feels an electric shock, then hears a song that seems to her an “epic” ballad about “cosmic harmonies” (53). A glowing blue light appears between Joan's right eye and ear.

In Chapter 6, Joan's family is vacationing near Normandy, and she swims in the ocean with her brother Peter (also called PD). When she emerges from the water, her skin is glowing neon blue and green. Her father insists it just the effect of bioluminescent algae.

In Chapter 7, Joan and Peter play in the forest. She asks him to play a game where he ties her to a tree, leaves her, and returns later to rescue her. He goes home and does not return until nightfall. As he approaches, he sees the forest is burning. Joan...