Summary

In Chapter 16, Henry goes to Dessie after Ed hits him. He has suddenly realized that Nonnie would never really marry him. Dessie asks Henry if they will get married and says it isn’t right for them to be together unless they are married. She fixes food for Henry, then they go out to a palmetto bush where she lets him have his way with her. Henry sleeps afterward but Dessie is plagued by guilt. As they walk back home, Dessie sees Tracy’s body in the bushes. Henry is shocked to see his friend dead. In his sorrow, he vomits. He believes the white men will decide he was the one who murdered Tracy.

In Chapter 17, Laura realizes her mother had found and thrown away the clay torso. She’s also been suggesting Laura spend less time with Jane Hardy, who is...