Part III: Chapter 13, The Snow-White Villa Summary and Analysis

The family likes the elegant, old Victorian villa on sight. Gerald soon discovers the hills surrounding the villa are owned by the mantis and geckos. Gerald becomes familiar with a particular gecko that has staked Gerald's bedroom as his territory. Gerald names his roommate Geronimo. Gerald enjoys watching Geronimo's unique behavior. Geronimo protects his claim on Gerald's room by attacking any gecko that arrives on the windowsill. Geronimo lands on their back and grabs the other lizard's tail. When Geronimo's opponent drops his tail and escapes, Geronimo underlines his victory by eating the tail.

One day Gerald has the luck of finding the largest mantis he has ever seen. He is jubilant to find she is also pregnant. Gerald catches her and puts her in a cage in his room. The...