On the way to Fork Stoan, Riddley is torn. He does not know where to go or who to trust. That night, he sleeps among the dogs and wakes up the next morning to find raw meat brought to him by the dogs. He waits until dark and passes the time by playing with the Punch puppet, inventing a conversation between Punch and Greanvine. He walks on toward Fork Stoan and eventually comes across a group of people.

Goodparley dangles by his hands at the center of the group. Riddley sees Orfing and his guards, as well as Lissener and other Eusa folk. They all have “faces like bad dreams” (121). The dog pack howls. Orfing explains to Riddley that he has removed Goodparley as prime minister and taken on the title for himself. Riddley frees Goodparley and hides the sulfur in Goodparley’s pocket. Orfing explains that he has taken control to put an end to Goodparley’s rule, and he plots with Lissener to gather together the Eusa folk to use the sulfur. The Eusa folk sing as they pass around a gleaming axe. Riddley jumps forward to try and save Goodparley from being killed but he is knocked unconscious.