In this chapter, we are introduced to a number of characters who have been introduced in the previous chapters. The first of these characters is the father, who is described as a "demented drifter" . He tells his son that he has fallen from a height and that he is not injured. The second character is a "night shining snake" , and the third is a man who has caught a snake and given it to Balas. The father and son discuss the nature of the relationship between them, and they decide that it is best for them to be together.