How we cite our quotes: Chapter.paragraph
Quote #4
"Are they pulling our leg?" he asks in Sicilian.
"They must be," I say back in Sicilian. "Only crazy people would go into the swamps if it was that dangerous." But my heart's beating double time. (9.19)
Nope, Calo and Cirone—they aren't joking. Our heart beats double time too when they agree to go in.
Quote #5
Rock and Charles pull long, wide knives out of leather sheaths on their backs. Ben sneers at me. "No bush knife?"
I don't know what I've done to make him dislike me. "Here. This way ya'll can be useful at least." He hands me the lantern and Cirone the food satchel. (9.34)
Humans—we're so unprepared for the natural world. No night vision. No claws or tough hide. This is why the boys bring a bunch of useful gadgets—knowing what to expect in the wilderness is our gift.
Quote #6
You can't see more than ten steps ahead. The cut-off canes slap back at us and their sharp ends poke hard.
And then the canes end, and it's like we've passed through a door in to a magic world of gauze-covered graceful shapes. The air is hazy and heavy with water. I've entered someone's dream. (9.36)
Wow—Calo really appreciates nature. We can tell because he describes this place with so much detail, which means he must be looking really closely.