Chapter summaries Southern Man: A Novel Greg Iles

Chapter 111: Aftermath on the Mississippi and a Tracker in Atlanta

⚠️ Spoiler Notice

This summary contains major plot developments from Southern Man, including the outcome of the Bienville mass shooting, Kendrick’s injuries, and Corey Evers’s escape attempt.

Summary

After the shooting on the Bienville bluff, the group escapes by boat. Penn pilots the fiberglass hull away from the shore, then Kelly examines Kendrick’s severe chest wound, noting the sternum is crushed. Kelly warns of possible aortic tear and urges a hospital, but Kendrick insists on reaching Penn’s home. The others discuss the media firestorm, with Frosty predicting national coverage by Reverend Al and Joy Reid. Meanwhile, five hundred miles away in Atlanta, Corey Evers learns of the shooting from a bartender. He realizes Bobby White will be identified as the shooter who saved hundreds. A former Delta operator, Zeke Calhoun, tracks Corey’s phone to a restaurant table, finding it taped underneath. Corey has already ditched the burner and boarded a Greyhound bus in new clothes. The chapter ends with Corey evading the tracker and engaging a fellow passenger in conversation about Bobby White.

Key Events

  • Penn pilots the boat cautiously to avoid hidden logs; Kelly examines Kendrick’s gunshot and stab wounds.
  • Kelly compares the damage to a sledgehammer blow and warns of possible aortic dissection.
  • The group debates whether to use Dwight Ford’s helicopter or Kelly’s plane for Kendrick’s evacuation.
  • Frosty and Kendrick speculate about national media reactions (CNN, Reverend Al, Joy Reid).
  • Corey Evers, in an Atlanta airport restaurant, watches CNN coverage of the Bienville massacre.
  • Zeke Calhoun locates a taped iPhone under a restaurant table—Corey’s discarded tracker.
  • Corey changes clothes, buys a burner phone, and boards a Greyhound bus, evading Zeke.
  • Corey’s seatmate Tracy discusses the shooting and Bobby White’s heroic role.

Character Development

  • Penn Cage: Takes a hands-on role piloting the boat and coordinating medical decisions; his experience with past trauma (his own aortic injury) gives him insight into Kendrick’s risk.
  • Kendrick: Despite life-threatening wounds, remains focused on the political and media fallout of the shooting, showing his commitment to his cause. His resilience is noted by Kelly as “bone density to spare.”
  • Kelly: Acts as the group’s medic, calmly assessing Kendrick’s condition while concealing his own worry. His readiness to use his plane reflects his resources and protective instinct.
  • Corey Evers: Displays tactical awareness by ditching his phone and changing appearance. His internal guilt over not warning Penn earlier suggests a conflicted conscience.
  • Zeke Calhoun: Professional and methodical, but outmaneuvered by Corey’s quick thinking. His frustration hints at future conflict.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Media spin and public perception: The chapter contrasts how the shooting is framed—as a “gang hit” by Buck Tarlton versus a heroic intervention by Bobby White. The women in the restaurant immediately view Bobby as a presidential candidate.
  • Trust and evasion: Corey’s successful evasion of Zeke’s tracker underscores the theme of hidden agendas and the cat-and-mouse tactics among former intelligence operatives.
  • The river as a liminal space: The boat journey on the Mississippi represents a transition from immediate danger to an uncertain safe haven, while also echoing historical dangers (steamboats holed by logs).
  • Physical vulnerability and survival: Kendrick’s crushed sternum and Kelly’s concern about the aorta highlight the fragility of the body even for a “muscled-up” young man, emphasizing the randomness of life and death.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter bridges the immediate aftermath of the mass shooting with the wider political and personal consequences. It deepens the tension around Corey Evers’s role—he is now a fugitive from both the law and Bobby White’s team. The parallel editing (Bienville riverboat vs. Atlanta airport) shows how the event ripples across the country. Kendrick’s refusal to go to the hospital sets up a medical crisis that may force difficult choices later. The chapter also firmly establishes Bobby White as a public hero, a development that will likely reshape the presidential race.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Kelly insist that Kendrick should go to a hospital, and what specific injury does he fear?
Kelly fears a torn aorta, a condition Penn survived after a car accident fifteen years prior. He knows that without a stent or surgery, Kendrick could die suddenly from internal hemorrhage. Kelly’s insistence reflects his medical expertise and the seriousness of the chest impact.

2. How does Corey Evers evade Zeke Calhoun’s tracking, and what does this reveal about Corey’s training?
Corey first leaves a separate iPhone taped under a restaurant table, then changes clothes and buys a burner phone before boarding a Greyhound bus. This methodical deception reveals his Army intelligence background and tactical awareness—he anticipates being tracked by electronic means and takes countermeasures.

3. What role does media coverage play in this chapter, and how does it affect the characters’ perceptions?
The news rapidly frames the shooting: CNN shows drone footage of the dead, Frosty expects national outrage from Black leaders, and restaurant patrons immediately view Bobby White as a hero and viable candidate. Media coverage elevates Bobby to a national political figure while also reinforcing racial and political divisions. Corey’s seatmate Tracy sees Bobby as “old school” and appealing, illustrating how the incident polarizes the electorate.

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