Summary

Chapter 9

On Mooshum’s birthday Clemence throws a large birthday party. When the cake is brought out, Mooshum accidentally catches his hair on fire. Clemence sends him inside to rest. The next day, Basil tells Joe about the arrest of Geraldine’s attacker, Linden Lark. Geraldine feels safe now and returns to work. A short time later Geraldine and Basil go to Bismarck to give more testimony, so Joe stays with Clemence. In the night, Mooshum again talks about Nanapush, about how he came to build the round house.

Sonja comes to Clemence’s after everyone has left, except Joe and Mooshum. Mooshum and Sonja want Joe to leave, but he refuses. Eventually Sonja gives in and does what she has come to do. She gives Mooshum a strip tease for his birthday. Joe is both shamed and excited by her dance. Afterward...