heep confronts the scrunt, but nearly dies in the process, convincing him he is not the guardian. the next night, farber's bad advice leads to their plan's immediate failure. in the confusion, farber is killed and story is mortally wounded by the scrunt. dury suddenly realizes his son joey is the real symbolist. interpreting the information on cereal boxes, joey deduces the true guild is composed of seven sisters, that two new men must be present, and that the healer is male, soon revealed to be heep. heep goes about healing story by "bringing forth [his] energy" (his repressed grief). story's departure starts again, but the scrunt attacks; it is stopped by the gaze of reggie, a lopsidedly muscled tenant who is the true guardian. reggie's intense stare and stalking approach compel the scrunt to slowly retreat, but he is distracted by the cry of the great eatlon (a giant eagle who will ferry story home). when reggie breaks eye contact, the scrunt leaps, but the tartutic arrive and drag it away. heep thanks story for saving his life as she hugs him goodbye. the great eatlon lands, enfolds story in one of its wings, and takes flight, ferrying story into the night.