Hunting by Stars

As French’s programming proceeds, he is often thrown into the Corrections Room and tortured with the relentless siren sound. After a while, French begins to fear the threat of torture as much as the torture itself. He tells Mellin much about the family, but he does not tell her about Rose. He also lies and claims that he has been meaning to leave the family anyway because he hates life in the wild. French reasons that if he professes to dislike the family, Mellin might not pursue them.

After 15 days, Mitch informs French that he has now entered the second phase of the program: integration. To prove that he is integrated, French must help administer the inmates: the Indigenous peoples whose marrow is to be extracted. Although French will supervise the residents, he must not talk to them. Mitch calls the residents “the rejects, the holdouts, the past” (140) and claims that converts like him and French are the future. French inwardly recoils at Mitch’s words. Mitch shows French a folder with the map of the institute, and French manages to filch a plastic pen from the folder.

The next morning, French is assigned kitchen duty. On the way, he meets an Indigenous person who is dressed like him.