Summary

“After the Blood” opens with a quote from Pablo Neruda: “Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig/And lifted its whisper to my thirsty lips…” (138). Amanda grabs her shoes and shotgun, ammunition on her belt, and runs out to the gate where Steven is. Amanda can see eyes and hear coughs, smelling “rotten meat and shit” (139). Amanda and Steven take a wagon back to the house with Henry, who has been badly burned. Steven explains that “they hurt him bad…even though he saved their lives” (140). Amanda puts Henry’s body on a table and starts to work at removing the burned flesh. Steven explains their father burned him.

Henry tells Amanda that he killed and “violated God’s rule” (143). Amanda gives Henry rabbits from a hutch to feed on. Amanda leaves Henry and his brother alone.

Amanda thinks...