Summary

Chapter 23 is titled “Earth Mother.” Jacob dreams that he asks the village woman to tell him where Lily is. In the dream, she gives him a red stone, says the word “window,” and pushes him away. He wakes to find he has a red stone in his hand, and that he is holding it so tightly that his hand is bleeding. The boy is upset and begins chanting. Jacob knows the boy is saying a protection prayer to the Earth Mother, fearing her anger for “allowing his guest to steal one of her precious red stones” (158). Jacob assures the boy the village woman gave him the stone. Jacob is surprised that he could speak the boy's native language. Based on his mistrust of Dr. Silva, he decides not to tell her about the stone.

In Chapter 24, “The Small Print,” Dr. Silva and Jacob...