This Tender Land

They spend two days on the island while Albert rests. In a nearby town, Odie buys a newspaper featuring a story about Emmy on the front page. Odie is surprised to see that the article, like others before it, does not mention him, Albert, or Mose. Albert tells Odie that he found ledgers recording payments to local authorities and politicians among the documents taken from the Brickmans’ safe and hypothesizes that the Brickmans don’t want to draw attention to their absence. While Mose fishes, Odie and Emmy explore the island and discover a skeleton.

Examining the skeleton, they conclude that it belonged to a Native American youth, who may have been murdered. Albert suggests that they leave the skeleton alone, but Mose insists on burying it. At Mose’s request, Odie offers a eulogy.

That night, Odie remembers his father, who was shot while making a liquor delivery near Lincoln. Mose reveals that Sister Eve told him his Sioux name, Amdacha, which means “Broken to Pieces” (272). Emmy has another fit. As it ends, she says, “They’re all dead” and “I couldn’t help them” (272).