Summary

The next chapter is titled “One.” Mab says no one attended school that day though school was not officially canceled. River and Mab go for a walk and he reveals he already knew about the dam before Mab told him, because Mirabel told him. Mab says she now understands the meaning of the idiom “struck dumb,” which has more to do with being stupid than being mute. River does not know why Mirabel told him. He says he told Nathan because he hoped he could reason with him. River says Nathan's argument was that the family would become poor unless they continue in business while the people of Bourne are poor already. He says Nathan and Apple argue that Belsum had nothing to do with the people of Bourne becoming sick, that bad things happen to people. Mab asks what River thinks but...