Summary

On the first of November, Leni does her chores in the half-light of the afternoon, feeding animals and refilling the icy water barrel. Night falls suddenly as she returns from the creek, and Leni panics in the darkness, imagining bear eyes watching her.

Leni finally stumbles into the warm cabin, only to find her enraged father confronting her mother. Cora accepted rice from Large Marge on credit, and Ernt feels she has insulted his ability to provide for his family. His eyes are frighteningly wild. Cora tries to reassure him, but he pushes her aside and drives away. Leni and Cora reflect that the weather will only worsen.

As winter sets in, Leni can only occasionally attend school. Her life contracts to the homestead; the Allbrights cannot even go to the Harlan compound to practice survival skills anymore. Ernt struggles to keep his...