Chapters 47-51 Summary

In chapter 47, Nora, Aragon, and Smithback make their way slowly through the slot canyon. They find Peter's body floating in one of the many pools. Aragon takes some lung tissue from the body and runs a test on it. Aragon tells Nora and Smithback that he believes a fungus killed Peter. Aragon believes the fungus lives in the soil in and around Quivira and that it might be the reason the city was abandoned so abruptly. Now everyone on the expedition has more than likely been exposed. There is an easy treatment for the illness, an antibiotic, but Aragon did not bring any with him. They must return to civilization and a hospital as soon as possible. Nora then tells Aragon about the skinwalkers and her theory that they want them to leave in order to loot the city. However, Aragon...