Chapter 17, Cool Water Tomorrow Summary and Analysis

The Sawi term for peace is "cool water." That night, Richardson barely sleeps; anxious to see how the Sawi make peace. The next morning, the missionary family watches from their porch as Mahaen and his wife, from Haenam, climb from their treehouse and make their way towards Kamur. Mahaen caries one of his sons and his wife, Syado, sobs violently. Richardson feels the tension in the air. Before Mahaen reaches Kamur, however, Syado grabs her son and runs away from the crowd of Kamur.

In the ensuing turmoil, Sinau, from Kamur, raises his infant son into the air. He asks his brother Atae to hand over the baby. Yet again, Sinau suffers a change of heart and snatches the baby away.

Another man of Kamur slips away and takes up his only son. As the...