Summary

Chapter 1

Brian is on a bush plane flying to the Canadian oil fields to spend the summer with his father. Brian’s parents have recently gotten a divorce, a divorce caused by a secret that only Brian and his mother know, though Brian’s mother does not know Brian is aware of it. Brian is angry with his mother, but he struggles to be polite to her. Therefore, when she gave him a hatchet before he left and asked him to put it on his belt, Brian did even though it was somewhat embarrassing.

On the plane, the pilot shows Brian how to use the controls, even allowing him to fly briefly. A short time later, the pilot becomes ill. Brian does not know what to do, so he does nothing. Unfortunately, the pilot has a final excruciating pain that causes him to...