Chapter Eleven Summary

As Katherine witnesses the fair winds blowing the grass, she realizes that she smells smoke. When she runs to Mike's office, wild animals join her on the human footpath. Just as Katherine sees Mike, he instructs her to go to the widest part of the river in front of the store. He tells her to wade into the middle and wait for him. Katherine heads to the river, praying.

The gathering of people in the river witnesses the fiery destruction of the Hudson's Bay Company store. The wild animals that hesitated at the river's edge hesitated no longer. Moose, deer, otters, mink, bears, wolves, and lynx joined the humans in the water. The fire moves toward the river and the brightness and heat torture the waders. The next day, Mike picks Katherine up, puts dry clothes on her, and feeds her...