Healer of the Water Monster

Pond symbolizes the natural world that has been exploited and destroyed by humans. Many of the Holy Beings whom Nathan encounters embody aspects of nature, such as the moon, rivers, and the ocean. Pond is the Water Monster of the Agave Pond, and his health is inextricably tied to the condition of his waters. When energy corporations exploit the Diné Homelands for their uranium, Pond suffers radiation poisoning from a uranium spill. This destructive, preventable action dries up the agave pond, drives away the animals who depend on its waters, and subjects the region to a decades-long drought. Nathan journeys to the Third World to attempt to save Pond and restore life to the desert. During his quest, other characters share information that reinforces Pond’s symbolism.

Pond’s sister tells Nathan that her brother’s illness is not an isolated incident. She laments, “It seems like we all are becoming sick in the Fourth World” (310). Her words show that Pond’s sickness is a microcosm of the broader destruction inflicted upon bodies of water and the natural world as a whole. Indeed, Seed Collector’s entire purpose speaks to the scope and urgency of this destruction.