Chapter 17-18 Summary

In Chapter's Seventeen and Eighteen we watch with almost alarm how the plot shifts from reconciliation to confrontation; as Alison and Gwyn figure out a part of the mystery of the Valley while below, Clive and Roger make accusations and divisions between the two families.

Chapter Seventeen begins by continuing the earlier scene of Gwyn and Alison on the top of the old mountain that hedges their valley. Gwyn explains that he believes that the old myths are true, to a degree. That at some point, many generations ago there were people here who found a way to control the forces of nature and to use it, perhaps even shaping it into the form of a woman. But as soon as it was forced into its unnatural form things went wrong, it now had a brain behind it and so acted...