Chapter 16 Summary

Gran and Nyle deliver the two pregnant ewes to Aunt May and Uncle Lemmy. When Gran and Nyle arrive at the defunct dairy farm, Nyle inquires about their safety. Gran explains that with all the rain they have had, it washed away most of the surface radiation. Gran explains that it is safe to visit but not safe to live there, since the radioactivity is now in the earth, the hay and the grass.

Despite the warm December day, Uncle Lemmy has stoked the wood stove, making it quite warm in the living room. Realizing that she has never spent much time in the house, Nyle invites her similar-aged cousins, Lou and Maxine, to join her outside to play. Both cousins look up at her with fear. Nyle puts on the protective clothing and mask and ventures outside, heeding the advice of her...