Book One: The Thing Was, Chapter 9-Chapter 10 Summary

Roy's brain gives him the delusion that government atomic testing during his service caused his brain cancer. He recalls tying animals to stakes to expose them to deadly radiation as tests, something that couldn't have happened since he was about fourteen at the time. However, Roy loves animals, and the delusion causes him real suffering. He even remembers killing his dog Donald, who is still alive. Despite his delusions, Roy is easy to handle and can stay at home while Mary works. During her last day before the school shuts down, Mary suddenly wonders if maybe she is deluded and has wandered in off the streets to lecture about nonsense.

The number and size of the Galapagos Islands has changed in the last million years, but Santa Rosalia is still the...