Section 11 Summary

This section begins with the phrase, "About thirty thousand years go..."

Katsuk begins to explain the natural history of the land to David. David starts to discuss his life with Katsuk, talking about tennis lessons and the mundane features of a privileged life. During this discussion, Katsuk continues to sharpen a piece of obsidian he found to use as a knife. David has ten pebbles in his pocket and is concerned that Katsuk seems more troubled each day.

Katsuk has spent a great deal of time in these woods as a tour guide for white adventurers. He is now angry over having shared this part of the Native American lifestyle with them. He continues to teach David as he hunts and traps and lives off the land. Noting Katsuk's struggle with the rocks, David asks where his knife has gone. Katsuk admits to...