Healer of the Water Monster

Nathan feels unworthy of the quest the Holy Beings assigned to him, considering himself “a flawed chubby human” (153). He decides that Devin the medicine man is a better candidate. Meanwhile, his family has other problems. To pay for the expensive ceremony, Nali pawns her family’s jewelry and sells her cherished rugs. The white pawnbroker offers her $400 for each of the rugs, which upsets her because she spent a year weaving each of them and because she knows that the pawnbroker sells Navajo-woven rugs for thousands in Phoenix. Nathan comforts Nali by reminding her that she is making this sacrifice for Jet. Nathan’s mother is still covering the protest and doesn’t know when she’ll be back home, but talking to her on the phone makes him feel better. 

The night after the visit to the pawnshop, Wind carries Nathan to meet with Pond and Darkness. Nathan is terrified of Mother Water Monster and tells the Holy Beings that he cannot go to the Third World. Pond explains that his mother won’t hurt him if Nathan can sing water monster songs because the music will prove that Pond sent him.