Summary

The walk to face Uncle C aboard the Maafa feels like the longest walk of Tristan's life. As he walks, the iron monsters get closer but none of them attack him. Tristan steps onto a raft. The raft drifts toward it. A familiar setting materializes before Tristan--torches, three steps, and a long dark passageway. It is the passageway from Tristan's dreams. The raft comes to a stop. Gripping the straps of his Story Box backpack, Tristan gets out and goes up the stair. Suddenly, a voice speaks to him out of the darkness. Tristan says out loud that he is here to speak to the Maafa. Under the wooden planks of the deck, Tristan sees dozens of faces--many of them Midfolk he recognizes who were taken from the Thicket. Brer Fox's voice talks to him. He says he is "translating" (422). Tristan sees Brer...