Part One, The Grave Dancer, Chapters 17-22 Summary

Stef drives out to Coney Island, where he is met by his father and brother who have driven up from Pennsylvania just to watch Stef run in a wheelchair race. Stef gets out the special chair his brother and father built for him and makes his way to the track. Stef has been racing for a few months now and is excited about this race. Racing makes Stef feel almost like the man he was before the shooting, giving him some illusion of control and power. Stef lines up for the race, taunting the other racers, especially one successful man who has been something of a mentor to him these past few months. The race begins and Stef holds back, hoping to keep from wearing himself out too soon. Stef keeps...