Chapter 15 Summary

Joe Leaphorn calls Sergeant Chee to ask if he's still interested in Billy Tuve. He shares the information from Louisa, and Chee tells him about Billy's disappearance. Everyone is unaware that it was Sherman who took Billy, and that he may now be with Joanna Craig. They discuss the wisdom of Bernie accompanying Chee on the trip, but Bernie holds fast to her commitment and claims Chee and Cowboy need someone to take care of them. Chee, Cowboy and Bernie take six hours to reach the canyon floor. When they get there, Chee and Cowboy scout the river for signs of the place where Billy Tuve had met the old shaman, or perhaps for Billy himself. Bernie is assigned to stay at the foot of the sacred Hopi Salt Trail that leads to the Salt Woman Shrine in case Billy shows up.

After...