Son: Book 3, Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

Gabe wakes up late. Kira is feeding Matthew and Annabelle breakfast, and she says that someone in the village is ill and asked for Jonas. At the table, Gabe has some breakfast and asks if the children will remember this later. Kira supposes they’ll remember that they were loved and cared for. She remembers snuggling with her mother. Gabe admits he doesn’t remember anything like that. He remembers riding in the bike seat—and he remembers some woman who truly loved him.

Gabe admits that he does have a gift, but he wanted to test it out again before he shared. Earlier, he says he veered into Matthew because he wanted to know what it felt like to be a little kid with his mother. His body didn’t move, but he entered Matthew’s consciousness and understood what it’s like to feel his mother’s love. And it made him remember that he had felt that before, though he doesn’t know where his mother is.

Later, Gabe declines to take a walk with Kira and the toddlers and instead asks if he can go find Jonas. The sick woman, Kira says, is Claire. She tells Gabe he can leave his paddle here and points him in the direction of Claire’s house. As he jogs, he can’t fathom that he has to kill Trademaster, whoever that is. He’s not bothering anyone here right now, so it’d be better to watch for him and scare him off if he comes back.

There are a few elderly women outside Claire’s cottage, and none of them forbid Gabe from entering. It’s dark and stale inside. Jonas is sitting by the old woman who’s lying in bed. Gabe has no idea why Claire asked for Jonas, or how Jonas could think this is more important than what he and Gabe were discussing about Trademaster. Jonas shushes Gabe and leans forward when Claire’s lips move. She tells Jonas to “Tell him.”