Son

Jonas and his wife, Kira, talk about Gabe building his boat, while Jonas looks at all of the books that line the walls of his house. He remembers trying to stop the dog from chewing them and now his toddler children from ruining them as well: “Both of them, like almost everyone in the small village, had come from another place, had fled something, had escaped some hardship of some kind” (278). Jonas used to be Leader but now has turned his attentions toward his family and is the protector of books. Jonas worries about Gabe because he does not have a family, and Jonas was too young to be a parent to Gabe when Jonas brought him to the village. Jonas reflects on how his assigned parents didn’t know what love meant, believing that Gabe has a gift of some kind. Jonas worries that even if Gabe successfully finds the old community, he will not find the love he is looking for, arguing that Kira’s experience was different because she had a mother who loved her. Jonas senses something out there watching Gabe. He doesn’t know what it is, but he knows it’s dangerous.

At first, Gabe’s friends are excited and help him with his boat-making project, but then they get distracted by summer pastimes. Gabe works by himself on a modest boat, and Deirdre’s brother asks if he wants to go fishing. Gabe admits that his project is progressing slower than he anticipated and shows his friend the plans for his boat. His friend is amazed that Jonas allowed him to commandeer one of the books. His friend laughs when he sees the boat Gabe has planned because the man in the picture looks terrified as ocean waves crash around him. Gabe argues that he will just explore along the river, admitting that it is a lot more difficult to build than he had anticipated. Gabe’s friend asks if anyone helps him; Gabe admits that an old woman watches him work, which his friend finds strange. They joke about Gabe growling at Claire. His friend asks about fishing again, and then mentions that Deirdre misses Gabe, which makes Gabe blush. They talk about the feast tomorrow, and Gabe says he’ll see her there.

The village has many planned feasts anytime they want to celebrate something. Kira dresses her children in the wondrous clothes she has sewn for them. Kira remembers the intricate burial cloth she sewed for her blind father as she dons her fancy blue dress, although Jonas’s clothes are simple. Kira puts a flower on Jonas’s collar, as well as their dog’s. They all go to the feast.

The village started as a community of outcasts, but eventually some people became wary of newcomers and did not want to let them in. Jonas argued that their community was a sanctuary and that they should welcome everyone. Gabe remembers being bored in class when he was younger and embarrassed when his history of Jonas pulling him into the village on a sled was discussed: “Most of the earliest settlers, those with their histories recorded in the museum, had grown old and were gone now” (291), like Kira’s father and his adopted son, Matty, who had died fighting to protect the village from evil. Gabe remembers how much Matty had taught him and how upset he was when Matty died, and how all the village tried to be better to honor Matty’s sacrifice. Jonas had banished the Trademaster. Gabe finds ways to remember Matty privately, remembering how Matty told him to pay attention in school, even if it was frustrating. Gabe remembers Matty telling him that he must know things so that Gabe can use his gift to help the community, although Matty does not realize that Gabe has already discovered what his gift is. Gabe remembers being too embarrassed to talk about his gift and trying to distract Matty with a fish. Gabe now wishes he had confided in Matty. Gabe remembers how a few weeks before the conversation with Matty, he had been watching a wrestling match at a feast and had veered into the body of a wrestler, becoming that man. Later, Gabe tried to use his power to cheat in school by veering into his teachers’ body only to be ashamed at the sincerity and passion of Mentor. Gabe had resolved to become more earnest in his studies after that: “He never told anyone. Veering seemed a private act, something to both savor and sometimes dread alone” (299). On his way to the feast, Gabe picks up a pebble to throw on Matty’s grave and greets his old friend. But when he hears the festivities and thinks of the food and Deirdre, Gabe runs to the party.

Claire’s backaches are getting worse, so she goes to the Herbalist for relief. He asks her age, and she says she doesn’t know, so he gives her some bark and explains that such pains are common with age. He asks her a few more questions before telling her that her time is limited, so she should enjoy what she can, like the feast. Claire thinks about Gabe’s dedication to his boat: “It saddened and puzzled her, his wish to be gone” (303). When she entered the village, her old age was still new to her. She remembers seeing Gabe for the first time, with his same smile and laugh. She remembers going towards him, but then she stumbled and Gabe looked at her disinterestedly, realizing how she looked to him. She remembers deciding she would not burden him with the truth. She is puzzled by Gabe’s obsession with his boat.

Claire cannot eat the roast pig because of her teeth so she fills her plate with soft foods. As she sits down, she watches the other young women, like Kira, and realizes she might have been one of them. She feels near to death, and thinks about how if she had not traded her youth, she would be with Einar but never would have found Gabe. She sees him glance at her and look away and thinks about how he is an adolescent now. The painful memories of his birth and infancy and her dreams come back to her now and, weeping, she remembers him learning her name.

Claire does not regret trading her youth, but she is worried about the small amount of time she has left. The music begins, and Claire watches Gabe flirt with Deirdre. Kira and Jonas tend their children, until the infants become too fussy and they go home. Claire remembers how Jonas saved Gabe when Jonas was only a child himself. She wonders if Jonas worries about Gabe; when she leaves the feast, she thinks about how soon she will die, without Gabe ever knowing about his past: “She decided she would tell her story, her own history that she had kept so secret until now, to Jonas. Someday, after she was gone, if the time was ever right, when the boy was old enough and ready, he could pass it on to her son” (310).

Claire tells Jonas her story, beginning with how she knew him as a boy. Jonas mistakes what she means, thinking she has come to the village more recently. When she presses that she knew him at their old community, he asks if he met her in the House of Old. She clarifies that she is only three years older than he and explains that she was chosen as Birthmother. They are both so engrossed in the story that the noise of the village falls away. Jonas asks her about the pills, and they talk about how they never took theirs. She can see by the way he inspects her that Jonas still does not understand her apparent age. She describes the funny face she taught to Gabe, which Jonas remembers. Jonas asks if she wants to stop for food. Claire admits that she is not hungry at her age, which Jonas finds confusing. They talk through the afternoon. Claire feels very tired, although she feels better having shared the burden of her history with someone else. She describes the cliff climb in excruciating detail; Jonas listens patiently and empathetically.

Jonas explains that the village banished Trademaster years ago, when he was Leader, and that he should have known when he felt something malignant attached to Gabe. Claire asks about Trademaster; Jonas admits he doesn’t know much except that Trademaster is Evil. Claire asks about Jonas’s eyes, and Jonas says that he has a special gift and wonders whether Gabe does as well. They talk about having been afraid of animals when they first left their old community, although Jonas mentions that Gabe never feared animals. Claire realizes that Jonas is now talking to her like an old friend, instead of an aged stranger. She mentions how she thought about taking Gabe but didn’t know how, and they talk about the small memories—like the ideas of bicycles—that pop up now and again. They remember Po, Gabe’s hippo, which Jonas says they had to leave behind because they were going to kill Gabe. Claire expresses regret that she hadn’t escaped with them but then switches to talking about Yellow-wing and Einar, whom she admits to loving. She says: “‘I wish it had not been Evil that brought me here’” (320).

Jonas helps Claire up from the bench because her heart is fluttering. He finally remembers his father mentioning her at the Nurturing Center. Jonas talks about how he tries not to think about their old community because he has made a life for himself here but mentions that Gabe is frustrated by his lack of a past or family. Jonas and Claire realize at the same time that they have to tell Gabe together. They are interrupted by shouts from the riverside, where Gabe has been building his boat.

Gabe doesn’t want people to watch his boat launch because he doesn’t want to be humiliated if the trial run is unsuccessful. Gabe thinks about how the man in the book doesn’t have a paddle, unsuccessfully trying to veer into the man. Gabe “was proud of the paddle he had made” (323), which is much more nicely-constructed than the rest of the boat. Gabe’s friends are impressed and ask to carve their names into the paddle. Gabe veers into each of them, some of whom think he’ll make it, others who don’t, but finds that most of them think he is brave for trying. Gabe asks Jonas to carve his name for good luck, feeling Jonas’s fear for him, of which Jonas displays no outward emotion. Gabe cleans his room and tidies his laundry, going out to the river for his first test. His friends see him and ask to watch, which Gabe reluctantly agrees to. He thinks that “when the time came, the real time, the time when he would leave for good—he would do it alone” (326).

One of his friends suggests tying a rope to the boat, for safety, but Gabe refuses. They help him push the boat into the water. His friends worry out loud, which annoys Gabe. A boy points out that there is a crack between two of the boards in the boat; annoyed, Gabe shoves a piece of cloth between then. His friends are all nervous, but Gabe ignores them. Gabe gets in the boat and slowly stands up, trying to balance himself. He feels triumphant, but then the boat rotates and he kneels to steer with the paddle, which he had practiced earlier. He paddles successfully, but then realizes he won’t be able to get back to the boys on the shore because of the current. The boat starts leaking and he tries to aim for shore, with his friends running after him. He shoves the paddle down into the river bottom, which stops the boat. One of the boys throws him a rope, and Gabe reluctantly grabs it. The boys haul him and his water-filled boat to shore. Gabe sees Jonas on shore, and mutters that his boat needs work, humiliated. Jonas tells Gabe’s friends that it’s dinnertime, and a defeated Gabe ties his boat to a tree. Jonas apologizes that the project did not turn out as planned. Gabe says he should just let the hunk of wood drift down the river. Gabe then says that his paddle worked well, though he is still frustrated at the failure of weeks of planning and work, and his dreams of being recognized in his old community, by his mother, are dashed. He feels like a fool. Jonas says he has something to tell Gabe, who scowls at his disaster of a boat before turning to leave with Jonas.

Jonas asks Gabe if he remembers Trade Mart, despite the fact that children weren’t allowed to attend it. Gabe eats Kira’s cookies as she tucks the kids into bed, thinking about how he’d rather play with their dog. Gabe daydreams about finding his mother to fill the sad hole in his heart, remembering that he always wanted to sneak into Trade Mart, even though it was creepy. Jonas recalls how it had been going on for years when he became Leader and finally noticed how bad it was. Kira joins them. Jonas explains how the Trademaster would make trades; these trades were always something desired in exchange for a part of themselves. Jonas gives Gabe an example, saying that Gabe might hypothetically trade his energy for a good boat. He then describes the Trademaster’s amazing powers. Gabe is excited to think about this, but Jonas cautions him that were Gabe to make such a trade, he might have woken up the next morning unable to get out of bed for the rest of his life. Gabe thinks of other things he could trade instead, like his honesty. Jonas talks about how the people in the village traded away the best parts of themselves for the things they thought they wanted or needed:“‘Trademaster was taking control of this village. And he was pure evil. It became clear when Matty died. That was the end of Trade Mart’” (340).

Kira puts her hands to her face in sadness, and Gabe remembers how close she was to Matty. Jonas talks to Gabe about powers, which makes Gabe uncomfortable. Kira explains that Jonas can see beyond, but Jonas says his gift is leaving. Kira explains that her gift— her ability to make things ordinary people cannot—is leaving her as well. She says that she and Jonas don’t need their gifts anymore because they are making a home for themselves here. Jonas says that he thinks Gabe has a gift as well, one that he will need to use. Jonas plans to use the last of his own gift to see beyond one more time, in order to find out where the Trademaster is so that Gabe can destroy him. Gabe argues that the Trademaster has nothing to do with him; Jonas tells him that he’ll explain everything in the morning.

Gabe sleeps fitfully; when he wakes up, he watches Kira caring for the children. Kira asks how Gabe feels, and he says he had strange dreams. Gabe asks after Jonas, and Kira explains that Jonas received an urgent message that someone in the village asked for him after falling very ill. Kira gives Gabe some toast and jam, and Gabe asks whether the children will remember this moment when they’re older. Kira says she doesn’t know but explains that she remembers her mother’s warmth beside her as she slept when she was small. Gabe says he doesn’t remember anything like that, other than being in the seat on the back of a bike, but he does remember there being a woman who loved him. Gabe admits that he has a gift and that he used it a few moments ago to veer into Kira’s son because he wanted to know what it was like to be a baby looking at his mother. He explains the silence and how his awareness shifts although his body doesn’t move. He talks about how he knows his mother loved him. Kira admits she doesn’t know when Jonas is coming back and lets Gabe wait for him in their house because they have a lot to talk about, but Gabe decides to go look for him, instead. Kira says that Claire is sick, and Gabe asks to leave his paddle at their house. Gabe goes after Jonas; “he wanted to talk more about what Jonas had proposed last night” (350), skeptical that he is supposed to kill the Trademaster. He laughs to himself at the idea of putting the Trademaster in his leaky boat. Outside Claire’s cottage, women talk among themselves about the suddenness of Claire’s illness. Gabe enters the cottage and finds Jonas, wondering why the old woman asked for him. Gabe asks Jonas to excuse himself, to finish their conversation, thinking that the dying old woman doesn’t need Jonas as much as Gabe does. Jonas tells him to be quiet, and Claire tells Jonas to tell Gabe the truth, although her speech is so quiet and lifeless it takes several attempts.

Sitting on the same bench where Jonas sat with Claire, Gabe does not believe Jonas when he tells Gabe what Claire told him. Jonas admits that he found it unbelievable at first, too. Gabe “wanted to be someplace else […] Anywhere but here” (354). Gabe tries to comfort Jonas, suggesting that Jonas has been working too much, but Jonas persists that Claire’s story is true. They discuss how children used to be assigned and the anonymity of Birthmothers. Jonas explains Gabe’s difficult birth and how much Claire loved Gabe, even though it wasn’t permitted.

Gabe finally accepts Jonas’s story, although he still cannot wrap his head around Claire’s old age and the Trademaster.

Jonas then takes Gabe to Mentor, to tell his story about dealing with the Trademaster, Mentor tries to keep that in the past but Jonas says the Trademaster is back. Mentor tries to evade telling his story, but Jonas is firm. Mentor describes the entertainment value of Trade Mart and how he liked to go to watch other people behave foolishly. Mentor describes how he was a lonely widower with a red birthmark on his cheek that made him self-conscious because he was in love with another widow. Mentor says that he traded his honor to be younger and handsome so that the woman would fall in love with him. Gabe is flabbergasted and realizes he is Claire’s son. Mentor describes how he turned into a terrible person who the widow did not want to date and then Jonas stepped in and Matty died battling the evil. Mentor recalls turning back into his old self, and Jonas adds that the Trademaster was banished, but he has now returned. Gabe says that he will fight the Trademaster, acknowledging that trades can be reversed. He and Jonas talk about their fear.

Jonas and Gabe return to Claire’s cottage. Gabe starts crying, fearing she is already dead. Jonas says her heart still beats, but there is little time. Gabe holds Claire’s hand and Jonas uses what is left of his gift to see where the Trademaster is. Jonas must sit to regain some of his strength, explaining that Gabe was always attracted to water, like his hippo stuffed toy, and that the Trademaster is on the other side of the river. Gabe tries to convince Jonas to come with him, but Jonas refuses, saying it’s Gabe’s journey to make alone; Gabe must use his gift to save Claire.

In the dark, Gabe is afraid of the river, remembering how Jonas mentioned that the Trademaster is nourished by the tragedies he sets in motion. Gabe has his paddle but no idea how to destroy the Trademaster, wondering if he could poison him. The idea of killing the Trademaster makes Gabe sick. Gabe is pulled downstream by the strong river current, but finds reprieve when his paddle gets stuck between two rocks. He realizes he cannot kill the Trademaster, repeating this thought to himself. The moon emerges from the clouds and “the motion of the river subside[s] slightly” (371). He repeats these words and calms the world, feeling the names carved into the paddle with his fingers and adding the names of all the people he loves, including Claire. He emerges from the river and the sky darkens and the river becomes turbulent again. The Trademaster is standing by the bushes, waiting for him.

Gabe is surprised that the Trademaster is not hiding but out in the open, waiting for him. The Trademaster is excited that Gabe has come looking for him, and speciously asks Gabe to introduce himself, then reprimands Gabe for thinking he does not know him. Gabe calls him by name, nauseated by the Trademaster’s proximity and his smell. The Trademaster acknowledges that both of them are there to destroy the other. He then asks Gabe about his weapons, mocking his choice to bring a paddle. Gabe says that he cannot kill the Trademaster, which makes the moon brighten and the Trademaster wince. In the cottage, Jonas waits for Claire to die, trying not to hope that Gabe will win. He thinks about Gabe’s determination and how Jonas always knew that Gabe possessed a gift. Jonas worries about Gabe’s youth and vulnerability in comparison to the Trademaster’s inhumane evil.

The atmospheric shift calms Gabe as he fingers the paddle but it angers the Trademaster, who removes a knife from his cloak and tosses it to Gabe. Gabe drops his paddle and catches the knife: “He didn’t want it. But he seemed to have no choice” (379). The Trademaster says that Gabe can now kill, grabbing something else from his cloak. The knife falls to the ground as the Trademaster attacks Gabe with a scythe-like guan dao. He holds Gabe’s neck with one hand and runs the blade gently along his skin. Gabe is surprised when the Trademaster starts mocking him instead of killing him, bragging that he has destroyed much more powerful opponents than Gabe and caused wars. The Trademaster nicks Gabe’s neck and makes him bleed. Gabe believes everything the Trademaster tells him, realizing that he’s Evil disguised as a man. Gabe questions why someone so powerful would kill someone as unworthy as himself, causing the Trademaster to withdraw. He offers Gabe other weapons for their duel and when Gabe remains silent, offers Gabe a trade. In the cottage, the night brightens and Claire’s breathing gets better. Jonas takes her hand and realizes it has become smoother, mistaking her transformation for the peace of death.

The Trademaster offers Gabe a boat, which Gabe refuses. He then offers Gabe his cloak, which Gabe doesn’t want. The Trademaster again offers Gabe a boat, but Gabe says no: “His quest for belonging, for love, had ended when he had knelt by a bed and held his dying mother’s hand” (384). Trademaster adds in Deirdre to sweeten the boat deal, then changes Deirdre to youthful Claire. Gabe grips the paddle tightly, feeling Jonas’s name. Claire’s name then appears beside it. Gabe refuses the Trademaster’s offer, instead veering into his enemy.

Everything goes silent as Gabe enters the Trademaster, who is “sick with searing hatred, and in the endless vortex through which he whirled, there was no comfort” (387). He understands the Trademaster and how he gains power through cruelty; Gabe fights to not be consumed by the hatred. In the cottage, youthful Claire sits up and announces she’s hungry. Inside the Trademaster’s body, Gabe feels the man’s starvation, a hunger that is fed by his victims. Gabe sheds the veer and starts explaining to the Trademaster how he failed to ruin Mentor, Einar, and Claire. With each story, Trademaster shrinks and groans until he is on the ground, whimpering. Gabe explains that he pities the Trademaster. The moon comes back out, and the Trademaster’s weapons turn into broken toys. Gabe announces that the Trademaster’s power is gone, and the Trademaster turns into a pile of rot. Gabe nudges it with his foot and it fades into nothing. Gabe digs a hole and plants his paddle there, in order to mark where evil was vanquished. He swims easily across the calm river. Jonas awakens to a sunrise after spending the night feeding Claire soup. Claire’s bed is empty; she is standing, fully returned to her youth, in the cottage doorway.