Summary

Chapter 1 opens with Pearl in the river fighting the current. She tries to get her bearings, but cannot grab hold of anything. The wind is howling and the swift water is keeping her down. Underwater, all she can hear is the sound of the river.

Chapter 2 finds six-year-old Pepper near the river. She is with her mother Ada, who is staring at the water. It is late October and clouds are moving in. The area is desolate and Pepper asks where the moon is. Pepper stands close to her mother, bumping her head into Ada’s hip. Pepper wants to know why they are standing by the river and her mother tells her that she already knows why.

Behind them is a house and their bags are sitting at the door. Pepper asks about the box Ada has that carries her mother’s...