Summary

Chapter 9 is narrated by Edgar and takes place on September 3. Jackson makes the strange suggestion that Edgar should use the name Jim instead of Edgar. Later, when Edgar looks through Jackson’s books, he finds books about the occult and books about the Civil War. Edgar wonders why the locals seem to refer to this town as the Darkening Land. Around town, he sees graffiti that seems potentially anti-Native. A local refers to Edgar’s home state of Oklahoma as “Indian Territory” (108). The local’s name is Venery, and he works in a music shop. Edgar finds Verney—like almost everything in the town—to be strange and unnerving. On the street, a man makes vague, unsettling comments to Edgar about guns and government agents. Back at Jackson’s house, Jackson tries to reassure Edgar’s increasing anxieties. Edgar lets Jackson film him for...