Summary

In Section 13, the voice tells Worried Man that he will be entering the seventh stage of life soon. The voice says he has been sent to tell Billy that he will have a stroke that will paralyze his entire body but his mind will remain active. The voice indicates the disability will be a gift and that Billy’s job is to determine the nature of the gift. He tells Billy that only one other person in his town, a woman, has been given a message like the one Billy is getting. Worried Man tries to bargain with the voice and even though the voice says he is unable to negotiate, the two reach a compromise that Billy will be allowed to keep his ability to speak and move his left hand.

In Section 14, Cedar goes about poking into caves wondering...