Chapter 13, Virginia Beach Summary and Analysis

Chapter 13 begins with a quotation from John Haines about the link between physical exploration and the exploration of the mind. Carine McCandless's home in Virginia Beach displays two prominent photographs of her brother, Chris. One is taken when he is seven, the other when he is seventeen. He wears the same annoyed expression in both photographs. Carine's elderly dog, Buck, sleeps at her feet, as she recalls how Chris loved Buck. She and her parents regret not allowing Chris to take Buck with him on his travels. Perhaps, if he'd had the dog, Chris would not have taken so many risks. Carine, like Chris, is a high-achiever with a ready opinion, but unlike her brother, Carine has made peace with her parents. Much like Walt and Billie, Carine and her husband, Chris Fish, work many long hours...