Chapter 9 Summary

The week after the band returns to the Spokane Indian Reservation, Junior steals a rifle, climbs a water tower, and kills himself.

The night before Junior killed himself, Checkers had sneaked out of Thomas's house by climbing out a window. The tribal police had ordered the band to remain in Thomas's house because the band had received many death threats. Checkers continues to have nightmares about Sheridan, so she leaves Thomas's house in order to go to the church and find Father Arnold. When Checkers arrives at the church she finds Father Arnold crying. He says that he is leaving the reservation. Checkers asks where Father Arnold will be reassigned, and he says that he is not being reassigned. He is leaving the priesthood.

Checkers thinks that everything the band hoped for has been lost. They did not even bother to bring their...