Summary

In Chapter 16, Radar slid from the cart and was unable to get up again. Her eyes were oozing. Charlie had been thinking about the gray people and worrying about his father, but Radar’s accident brought his attention back to her.

When Charlie started walking again, it was with a new determination. He was close enough to the city he could see a massive gate. He worried it might be locked. He could also see a woman riding a three-wheel bicycle toward him reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz.

Charlie pulled out the gilt fist, but the woman, Claudia, yelled at him that she had dreamed he was coming. She added that she was deaf to explain why she spoke so loudly. Claudia recognized how sick Radar was. As soon as they were at Claudia’s house, she put liniment on Radar’s...