Chapter 9 Summary

Merricat and Constance stay outside in the woods all night long. They hear an ambulance come and take Uncle Julian away, and they hear voices calling for them, but they never respond. Merricat recalls her game that she played at the beginning of the book during her errands to the village and she says, "Fire; return to Start." When Constance wakes up, Merricat tells her that they are on the moon at last.

They wash themselves in the creek and then go to the house. The first room they enter is the kitchen, which is almost completely destroyed. The drawers have all been pulled out and broken against the walls. The floor is covered in broken glass and dishes. Silverware is warped and twisted. There has been no fire in the kitchen, but the villagers have destroyed what the fire spared. Constance goes...