Chapter 5 Summary

On the morning of the Fourth of July, Joe finds himself hunting a gopher. However, rather than finding a gopher, he unearths a large snake that has already eaten the gopher. Joe has a drink afterward to calm his nerves and this causes a fight between him and Ruth, who believes that there is a time for drinking and early morning is not that time. Late in the afternoon, Marian walks over to join them before going on to the LoPrestis' party. They sit on the porch in the heat and talk. Marian suggests to Joe that pain can sometimes be a pleasurable thing. Joe argues, but Marian is set in her opinion. Before they can end the discussion, Fran LoPresti calls. Fran is unhappy with Peck's growing camp and suggests to Joe that he ask them to move on.

Joe, Ruth, and...