Summary

In Chapter 16, Tommy turns the gun on Skink, who is bloody and bruised from his fight with the alligator in the river. He demands to know what is going on. Thinking fast, Richard introduces himself as Carson to Skink. Skink recognizes the ploy, then asks Malley for her name. He then explains the canoe they have is his, and that it got away from him. Tommy says the canoe belongs to him now. He orders Skink and Richard to sit down so he can tie them up as a storm comes on. Richard can see that Tommy is beginning to sicken from the catfish injury, but refuses to rest. Richard recognizes that Tommy is evil to be holding a fourteen year-old girl hostage, in addition to himself and an old man. To calm everyone down, Malley explains she met Tommy online in a chat...