The Skeleton Tree

In present day, Frank joins Chris at the point, and they watch for the rescue boats. Frank expresses no rage or cruelty toward Chris in their interactions.

In a flashback, it has been 40 days since they arrived at the cabin. They carry torches made of trash as they go out to see the northern lights, a sure sign that winter has come. They feel empowered by the fire they harness but still insignificant in the face of the wilderness. Frank says he doesn’t care whether he dies and then holds out his hand and says that his injury, where Thursday attacked him, is getting worse.

Chris goes fishing alone and, after catching two fish, is confronted by the bear. He can’t remember what to do. The bear charges, but Chris can’t move, and it comes to a halt directly in front of him. Chris asks the bear not to kill him, drops the fish and gaff, and crawls on his back. The bear leaves Chris shaking in the river.

In terror, Chris walks along the beach toward the cabin. The bear appears behind him. Chris runs, and the bear runs too. He can’t make it to the cabin, so he veers for the shipwreck. He climbs into the fish hold, finds a shattered piece of wood, and stabs the bear’s snout through the hull. Enraged, the bear tries to dig under the boat. The boat shifts, and the bear sprawls on the rocks. Hours pass, and the bear stays on the rocks, but Chris doesn’t move. The raven lands and says, “You’re finished.” The bear attacks from all sides as Thursday yells at it. The bear bats at the log that pins the shipwreck to the beach, nudging it bit by bit. In the night, the raven leaves and the bear pries loose a plank. Chris climbs through a hatch and runs along the beach as the bear rips apart the shipwreck. At the cabin, he finds Frank yelling, “Get out.” Chris believes that the bear is somehow there and charges in with a stick, but Frank is yelling at the raven.

While Chris was gone, Frank destroyed all but one match, and the raven attacked Frank. His neck is now scratched and bleeding. Frank begs Chris to keep the raven out of the cabin, and Chris sees that Frank’s hand is dangerously purple.

The boys wait in present day, watching the water in the belief that help is coming. Frank reads aloud from the book.

In a flashback, Chris dreams of his father and then wakes to see his father in the shadows of the fire. His father tells him to watch for a man: “Seven days later, you’ll be saved” he says (184). Chris believes in the vision, but Frank doesn’t. Frank is sick and can’t stop shivering. Chris sees that the infection is spreading from Frank’s hand up his arm in red streaks. Frank says he’s scared, and Chris feels pity and concern.

Frank deteriorates quickly, though their bond grows stronger the weaker he gets. Chris takes care of him, even holding him and comforting him. Chris cries and lies down beside Frank, worried that he’s dying. Suddenly, he realizes that he needs to climb the mountain.

Chris goes to the shipwreck, gets the gaff and knife, and then sets off up the mountain. He ties bits of plastic caution tape from the beach onto trees so that he can find his way back. On the mountain, he sees his shadow and calls it Alan, encouraging it as he climbs.

At the summit Chris can see for miles. They’re not on an island. In all directions, he sees nothing but darkness. He recalls the first time he saw Frank and realizes that Frank was the boy in the taxi on the day of his father’s funeral. In an instant, he knows the truth. Chris runs toward the cabin, braving the grizzly trail to reach Frank.

In the cabin, he finds Thursday pecking at Frank’s hand and drives him away, wishing to never see the bird again. A strange green paste covered the bird’s bill and the paste is in Frank’s wound as well. Later, the raven returns with a fancy watch and says “clever bird,” but Chris chases the bird away again. He must choose between Frank and Thursday, and he has made his choice.

Chris says that he knows Frank is his cousin, that he’s Uncle Jack’s son. However, Frank smiles, calls Chris a moron, and replies, “I’m your brother” (204).