Summary

In Chapter 13, Sang Ly learns that Sopeap not only taught at university, but was educated in America. She brings an abridged version of Moby Dick for Sang Ly to read. Sopeap tells Sang Ly that everything in literature means something else. After reading the novel, Sang Ly begins to wonder about the dimensions of good and evil, asking Sopeap if Ki's approach to fighting the gangs is correct. Sopeap says that evil must be fought with a knife (103).

In Chapter 14, Sang Ly finds a piece of literature at the dump called "Sy Mao's Advice for Growing Rice and Children" (105). Sopeap teaches her that words are both valuable and dangerous. Later, Sang Ly tells Ki that Sopeap agrees with him regarding his desire to fight. She asks him, however, not to be like Captain Ahab, because she does not want him to get hurt...