Tristan is overwhelmed by the power of the Maafa, which destroys whatever it touches. The one bright spot is that he sees John Henry and the Flying Sisters leading the remnants of the people of MidPass to Nyame’s palace. Strangely, Brer is not with them. High John gives Tristan a special adinkra that trebles his fighting power. Each member of the company fights a portion of the monstrous army, and Tristan gives Thandiwe instructions to take the MidPass refugees to the forest fairies. Tristan and Gum Baby crush the fetterlings initially, and everyone seems to be making headway against their enemies. Everything falls apart, however. John Henry and the sisters fall, Tristan realizes an ambush is waiting between the Midfolk and the forest, and hullbeasts release a cloud of brand flies.

Out of desperation, Tristan turns to the Story Box. The box is lit up with a circle of scenes in which an Anansesem tells stories to audiences, collects stories from these audiences in return, then packs the stories in the Story Box, which the Anansesem straps on his back as he leaves. Tristan recalls how Nana began her stories: “Let me give you some truth, and I hope it returns back to me” (415).