Summary

In Chapter 10, the narration returns to the second person point of view. Hoa and Essun stop to spend the night near a roadhouse and are woken by the sounds of screaming. They run but return later because they need water. At first, there does not appear to be anyone at the roadhouse. However, once inside they find a woman drawing water at the pump. Essun thinks immediately that the woman is commless because she is filthy with neglected hair and dirt ground into her skin. Essun tells her that they do not want trouble, only some water. The woman assures them she will not start any trouble. She works the pump when Essun fills her canteen underneath the spigot.

The woman shows Essun a test she ran to prove the water is safe. Essun accuses her of being a geomest but the woman...