Chapter 110 Summary: The Walking Dunes Ambush

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Jane drives toward the Walking Dunes, one of Long Island’s natural wonders—four parabolic sand dunes that have migrated inland for a century. The area is open during the day, with a mile‑long trail through sand, scrub, and a freshwater bog. Jane knows the dunes well; she often brings her dog Rip or reads there. She recalls that in 1921 the desert scenes for Rudolph Valentino’s The Sheik were filmed on location.

The wind howls, and Jane worries about the funneling effect that can create a sandstorm. She meets Jimmy at the end of Napeague Harbor Road. Jimmy fears the meeting is a trap—the dunes offer a million hiding places—but Jane says they are both armed and dangerous. Jimmy reports that his informant Len Greene also claims to know things, and Jane laments that everyone knows things except them.

They follow the narrow trail, branches slapping them. The moon is bright and high. They draw their guns and climb to the top of the first dune, where Jane calls out for McKenzie. A voice replies from below, but when they circle back, a new voice speaks from behind them. It instructs them to turn around and toss their guns. Jane and Jimmy comply. When they turn, they face Anthony Licata, who was presumed dead. Licata, holding a revolver, touches his head and says he had to get a new Rangers cap after he died, then asks if they like it.

Key Events

• Jane and Jimmy arrive at the Walking Dunes to meet McKenzie.
• They discuss the possibility of an ambush; Jane insists they are prepared.
• The pair climbs the dunes in high wind, guns drawn.
• A voice from below answers Jane’s call, but the real danger comes from behind.
• Anthony Licata, thought to be dead, reveals himself, ordering them to disarm.
• Licata wears a new Rangers cap and mocks his own apparent resurrection.

Character Development

• Jane – Shows resourcefulness and familiarity with the terrain. She balances caution with determination, willing to risk a meeting because McKenzie claims to know crucial information.
• Jimmy – Demonstrates tactical awareness and skepticism; he repeatedly voices that the situation could be a trap. His intuition proves correct.
• Anthony Licata – His sudden reappearance subverts reader expectations. The casual remark about his cap suggests he is enjoying the dramatic reveal and maintains a cocky demeanor even in a high‑stakes confrontation.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

• Ambush and Trust – The chapter hinges on the tension between the hope of gaining secret knowledge and the risk of walking into a trap. Every character is armed, and trust is absent.
• Natural Setting as a Character – The Walking Dunes are described in detail: their history, wind patterns, steep drops, and the challenge of navigating them at night. The environment mirrors the precarious, shifting nature of the plot.
• Resurrection and Deception – Licata’s “death” is revealed to be a ruse. The new cap becomes a symbol of his return and his willingness to toy with those who thought he was gone.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 110 delivers a stunning twist: Anthony Licata is alive. Until now, readers believed he had been permanently removed, but his return reshapes the entire conflict. The chapter also solidifies the Walking Dunes as a atmospheric setting that heightens suspense. Jane’s decision to meet McKenzie leads directly into a deadly confrontation, raising stakes for the chapters ahead.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why do Jane and Jimmy go to the Walking Dunes despite suspecting a trap?
Jane believes McKenzie has information she urgently needs. Even though Jimmy points out the risk, Jane trusts that being armed and cautious gives them an edge. She is willing to gamble for critical intelligence.

2. How does the setting of the Walking Dunes contribute to the chapter’s tension?
The roaring wind, steep sand trails, and darkness create a disorienting environment. The dunes offer countless spaces for an ambush, and the characters must fight both the terrain and the unknown. The historical note about film desert scenes adds an eerie, cinematic quality.

3. What does Anthony Licata’s line about his new Rangers cap reveal about his character?
His casual question, “Like it?” after forcing Jane and Jimmy to disarm, shows that Licata is not merely surviving but enjoying his return. The cap is a trivial detail that highlights his arrogance and his desire to control the narrative of his own “death.”

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