Skink—No Surrender

Nature takes a more central role after Richard and Malley survive the boat wreck. Chapter 19 opens with Richard recounting the history of wild pigs, in which human beings made destructive decisions regarding nature. In the same way that he discussed DDT and Skink’s feelings about littering, Richard reflects on the lack of respect for nature.

This leads directly to the pig chasing Richard through the woods. Nature is again treacherous, but it isn’t the fault of its wildlife. Further proving that nature is unpredictable, Richard’s plan to startle the pig with his shoes backfires. This foreshadows how nature will turn against Richard’s antagonist. Richard, as protagonist, survives an attack similar to that which leads to his enemy’s death later.

Nature stops Tommy’s escape. Just as one did to Richard, “A wild boar had chased Tommy way, way up a pine” (252). In Richard’s case, an ally, Malley, saves him. Their roles change in the dangerous moment. Malley chooses to return to the tree and save Richard. His pursuit of her safety pays off. Tommy, however, has no allies. He has alienated himself from Malley and is alone. He does not have the same tools to survive. Richard, on the other hand, continues to utilize his tools and skills. Malley is shocked to learn that Skink taught Richard to drive, a skill that was necessary in his journey. They cannot find a phone without it.

Deception is another of Richard’s tools. When they decide to find Skink, Richard and Malley again lie to their parents. Without doing so, they cannot accomplish their new goal. Likewise, Malley outsmarts Tommy with a lie: She tells Richard and Skink “to leave. It’ll just be you and me, T.C.,” although Richard knows “we would be coming back for Malley. We’d be coming back for Tommy, too” (254). This presents an opportunity for Skink to fight Tommy once more. Richard also lies to Dime, telling him that he’ll keep the fishing vessel off the river. Commenting on the theme, Richard narrates, “One more lie from the lips of Richard Sloan, but who was counting?” (232).

The plot changes in the novel’s later chapters. Richard has ostensibly reached his journey’s goal by escorting Malley to the payphone. However, Richard’s journey changed him. He knows that he now has the tools, skills, and allies to head back toward danger and repay Skink for his help: “He came back for you and me. We should go back for him” (223).

Richard’s decision leads them back to Skink. This, too, alters the characters’ goals. Richard “understood that Malley needed to see [Tommy] caught […] She needed the final word” (245). Richard’s goal is to protect Malley, and he knows that she won’t feel safe with Tommy alive. This comes at a critical moment in the plot: The protagonist reunites with his strongest companion, who is now weakened by an injury. With this ally and all he has learned on his journey, Richard is ready to face his antagonist for a final time.

Symbolism around identity in critical in these chapters. Richard sees his deceased father as a lost part of his identity; hence, he stole the skateboard from the St. Augustine store. Now, though, Richard starts to absorb parts of Skink’s personality. As Richard drives back to the Choctawhatchee Bay to start his search for Skink, “Skink’s driving mix was playing, the music that had gotten him through Vietnam” (228). As he steers Dime’s boat up the river, “To keep my head dry, I fitted on the governor’s shower cap” (233). Both Skink’s music and his shower cap are indelible parts of his personality. They made him stand out to Richard in the early phases of their journey. Music was a tool that brought them closer, and Richard’s taste reflects that. Skink’s shower cap is a physical symbol of the man’s eccentricity, which Richard now accepts in his life.

In the context of identity, Malley takes control of her life again. She finds a photo of herself and notes that Tommy took on her. Symbolically, Tommy has been keeping Malley’s identity locked in his suitcase: “Without a word, my cousin ripped up the photo, crumpled the shreds and threw them into the water” (237). She does the same to Tommy’s notes. He no longer keeps her identity in his possession; she rejects his control.

Skink’s PTSD reemerges as an obstacle. After breaking Tommy’s gun, “he began chanting in some unrecognizable language while performing a cripple-step jig” (256). Skink collapses, and Richard performs CPR on him. The tables turn here: Skink has often acted as Richard’s savior, but Richard becomes responsible for saving Skink’s life. However, the fit gives Tommy time to escape just before they defeat him, allowing for one last major obstacle before the story’s resolution.