Summary

In the next chapter, the novel interjects an annotated version of a poem by Warren Penfield entitled Loon Lake. It describes Loon Lake as a place in the Adirondack mountain range characterized by a mixture of natural beauty and natural menace. Certain indigenous species are beavers and loon birds, which the poem describes as both beautiful and ugly. The poem discusses the summer of 1936, and an annotation mentions that at that time, Warren was living in the Loon Lake estate of millionaire manufacturing tycoon F.W. Bennett. His wife, Lucinda Bennett, was a famous aviator. The poem describes a party held by Bennett in which the guests were various organized criminals with whom Bennett had connections. More annotations name one of the gangers as Thomas Crapo. Crapo’s girlfriend was 18-year-old Clara Lukacs. The poem states that during the night, there was a scream...