Chapter 9, Gods From the Sky Summary and Analysis

Richardson employs all the natives to help in clearing the area for his home, and they accomplish the task quickly. As Richardson instructs them in setting up the roughly hewn pillars, more canoes arrive, full of warriors from Zhaenam. Richardson works as the lone Tuan among two hundred natives of the Kayagar, Atohwaem and Sawi tribes. The mixture of tribes proves dangerous, however. They easily become provoked at one another. Without full command of the language, Richardson simply talks in calming tones of English to assuage the first fight. The arrival of the Missionary Aviation Fellowship plane averts the next argument that threatens to become violent.

The natives react in fear to the arrival of the plane. They retreat into the brush, because they believe that the planes (aramaso) are allergic to thorns...