The Batiste family sits in the open attic until the waters subside. Although they are alive, Skeet is miserable saying he “failed” China. Esch reminds him that he didn’t fail them. Skeetah scans the area for China as the water starts to recede. He notices the tractor and decides that “when [the water] gets to the middle of the tires” he’s going to look for China (239). As soon as he could see the tires, he leaves. No one tries to stop him. 

The whole yard and the house are waterlogged and uninhabitable. Randall suggests that they go towards Big Henry’s place to find shelter. Daddy agrees. Randall reassures him that they could fix things.

On their way through Bois Sauvages they see the destruction wreaked by the hurricane: “Every house had faced the hurricane, and every house had lost” (242). They watch as the survivors repeat “alive alive alive” (242). Marquise says he saw Skeetah staying by the house in case China comes back.

Big Henry takes them into St. Catherine to look at the wreckage. What used to be the school where Randall played basketball just a few days before is gone.