Chapter 24 Summary: Death Right Down to the Cheekbones

⚠️ 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

Sol admits with pride that she cleaned out Richard’s hidden money caches, stealing several hundred dollars. Rainy worries about pursuit, especially if Richard owns a boat. Though angered by Rainy’s lack of praise, Sol eventually helps count the take: four hundred twenty-two dollars. They navigate the canal toward Blinker, past a woman (Essie) harvesting leeches from a meat shank. At the Huffin Lift Bridge, they pay the bridge operator Alistair three hundred seventy dollars for passage, but he claims an overnight curfew and tells them to return in the morning. The next day, the morning operator Ricky refuses to honor the paid receipt, demanding more money or a trade. Rainy confronts Alistair at his home, but Alistair denies any obligation and threatens him. Frustrated, Rainy and Sol anchor back near the rushes. Essie appears and offers to reveal a way to pass under the bridge without paying—if they buy leeches and brew coffee.

Key Events

Sol reveals she stole multiple cash stashes from Richard, totaling over $420 after earlier spending.
Rainy learns Richard owns a slow diesel tug named Relax, easing some fear of pursuit.
The pair counts the money together, deepening their bond.
While traveling, they observe the painted islanders on mainland walls, some defaced.
They encounter Essie, the leech woman, who later becomes a key ally.
Rainy pays Alistair $370 for bridge passage; Alistair claims a night curfew and stamps the pass for morning.
The next morning, Ricky refuses to honor the pass, citing a different date and demanding a bribe or barter.
Rainy tracks Alistair to his grand home but is turned away with a threat.
Essie returns to their anchorage, offers to share a secret method to bypass the bridge if they buy leeches and provide coffee.

Character Development

Rainy: Shows growing protectiveness and frustration. He is humiliated by the con but refuses to give up, seeking Alistair personally. His willingness to trust Essie marks a pragmatic shift.
Sol: Demonstrates cleverness and defiance. She takes pride in outsmarting Richard and later proves generous by offering her stolen money for the bridge fee. Her skepticism about Death and riddles shows a hardened worldview.
Essie: Introduced as a mysterious, self-sufficient islander. Her calm authority and knowledge of the bridge’s corrupt history position her as a potential guide.
Alistair and Ricky: Embody systemic corruption. Alistair’s formal deception and Ricky’s aggressive bargaining reveal how power is abused in this broken society.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Storytelling as comfort and survival: Rainy reads Molly Thorn aloud to Sol, using the tale of a girl confronting Death to distract from danger. The story’s riddle fails to convince Sol, yet the act of reading creates warmth and connection.
Death and power: Sol’s assertion that Death takes the clever ones first contrasts with the fairy-tale logic of the book. Death is both a literal figure in the story and a metaphor for the dangers closing in.
Corruption and broken systems: The bridge fee is a shakedown; Alistair and Ricky operate a scam that preys on travelers. The “emergency curfew” is exposed as a lie.
Water imagery: The canal, leeches, and slow diesel tug reinforce a world that moves at a dreary, threatening pace—except for those who know hidden routes.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 24 marks a crisis of trust and resourcefulness. Rainy and Sol are trapped after being cheated by the very people meant to facilitate passage. The chapter forces Rainy to decide whether to trust a stranger (Essie) after being betrayed by authorities. Sol’s theft and her reading of Molly Thorn deepen their relationship, showing that even in a lawless world, shared stories and small acts of defiance create resilience. The bridge becomes a symbol of the arbitrary barriers that the powerful erect, and Essie’s offer hints at an underground network of survival knowledge. This chapter raises the stakes for the journey north and tests the duo’s ability to adapt.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Sol steal from Richard despite knowing the danger?
Sol steals to survive and to reclaim some power after years of abuse. She sees Richard’s money as a resource she is entitled to, and she relishes outwitting him. Her pride in the theft also reveals her desire to be recognized as capable and brave.
What does the bridge fee scam reveal about the society Rainy is traveling through?
The scam shows that institutions meant to serve the public have been co-opted by individuals for personal profit. Alistair and Ricky exploit their authority with impunity, using lies about curfews and inspection stickers to extort travelers. This reflects a broader breakdown of law and mutual trust.
Why does Rainy read Molly Thorn to Sol, and what effect does it have?
Reading the story calms Sol and creates a moment of intimacy. The tale, which features a young girl who outwits Death, parallels Sol’s own situation and gives her a model of bravery. Though Sol criticizes the riddle solution, the shared experience reinforces their bond and provides comfort in a hostile world.

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