Race to the Sun

Nizhoni follows the Rainbow Road to a massive, pueblo-style house, built out of turquoise. A sign encourages her to “take a number” from a red dispenser (244). Two bears at the entrance refuse her admittance, sparking Nizhoni’s temper. When she shouts that she has come for weapons to fight monsters, they hurriedly change their minds. They say that her “friend” has already arrived; Nizhoni hurries inside to find the real Mr. Yazzie sitting with Jóhonaa’éí, a Holy Person known as the “Merciless One.” Jóhonaa’éí asks to hear about each trial and what Nizhoni learned. She reports the events of each trial, ending with a confident declaration that she is “a monsterslayer, just like [her] mom” (251).

Nizhoni hugs Mr. Yazzie, confessing her sadness over losing Mac and Davery. When Jóhonaa’éí calls losing them a “sacrifice,” Nizhoni remembers the song’s reference to sacrificing a “dream,” not “blood and flesh” (253). Mr. Yazzie reassures her that those lost on the Rainbow Road end up in “the Lost and Found” (254). Nizhoni insists on seeing Mac and Davery immediately, despite Jóhonaa’éí’s urging that she is running out of time for her quest. Reluctantly, she tends to her responsibilities over her wants after getting Jóhonaa’éí’s assurance that Mac and Davery are safe “for now.”

Nizhoni follows Jóhonaa’éí into the weapons room, which is full of lightning contained by an invisible force. Jóhonaa’éí says that he can forge this into any weapon that Nizhoni, Davery, and Mac require. Nizhoni’s mind reels, but eventually she thinks critically about their skills. Davery’s biggest talent is his knowledge; Jóhonaa’éí makes him a book that will help him understand how to defeat monsters. For Mac, whose power is water, he makes “liquid lightning,” though he cautions that it can only be used one time. Mr. Yazzie is disgruntled with these unconventional weapons until Jóhonaa’éí reminds him that, though ancient, Navajo culture is “alive and ever-changing” (261). Even so, Mr. Yazzie is relieved when Nizhoni chooses a recognizable weapon for herself: a bow, like her mother, though Nizhoni’s bow and arrow is more traditional than Bethany’s crossbow.

Jóhonaa’éí bids them to continue, promising to rejoin them after forging one more weapon; Mr. Yazzie rushes her out of the room before she can ask for more details and helps her find the Lost and Found room. Inside, Nizhoni finds Bethany.

Nizhoni hurries into the room despite Mr. Yazzie’s warning. Her mom, trapped in amber, looks just as she did in the vision. Mr. Yazzie tells Nizhoni that this is only Bethany’s body; her mind is still trapped in the vision Nizhoni saw in the mirror. She failed the test.

Nizhoni finds Davery and Mac insensible among the other “lost ones” and recalls that she needs to sacrifice “a dream” to save them, per the song. She realizes that she must give up her “dream of being a hero” and let someone else save the day despite her hard work (267). She agrees, and the room rumbles, shaking Davery and Mac from their stupors. She gives them each their respective weapons. As she begins to tell them that she can’t fight with them, Mac notices Bethany (whom he does not recognize) over Nizhoni’s shoulder.

Mac denies that Bethany can be their mom, believing that she is dead. A weeping Bethany approaches to confirm Nizhoni’s claim that she didn’t die or intentionally abandon them; she was stuck in her trial. Though still hurt by her mom’s choices, Nizhoni accepts them, and Mac feels relieved to have Bethany back. As the other “lost ones” return to sentience and engage in tearful reunions, Nizhoni is struck by the realization of how many of her ancestors were forced to leave their families to fight monsters. Bethany promises to earn her forgiveness through action, rather than just words of apology.

Jóhonaa’éí returns Bethany’s crossbow (the mysterious weapon he forged in Chapter 38). Despite her reservations about deserving such a gift, Bethany promises to use it faithfully. A flap of wings announces Łizhin and the other heralds. Black Jet Girl tells them that the sun has risen and the monsters are already free.

Black Jet Girl urges speed as a wailing sound echoes around them—the monsters are breaking free and gathering at Tsé Bit’a’í, or Shiprock, an ancient volcano. Everyone climbs on the heralds’ backs, except for Nizhoni, who explains her dream sacrifice. Mr. Yazzie clarifies, however, that it was her willingness to make the sacrifice that mattered; she will still be fighting monsters. Excited, Nizhoni climbs onto Łizhin, who warns her that these monsters will be far more formidable than the buzzards she encountered earlier. Nevertheless, Nizhoni feels ready.

The group flies to Tsé Bit’a’í, where dozens of the buzzard-like creatures (far larger than those at Dibé Nitsaa) emerge from a cave. Black Jet Girl cautions that all non-monsterslayers will be frozen by their gazes. Davery consults his book, advising that the monsterslayers to go for the creatures’ eyes while he searches for the answer. Nizhoni shoots one of the monsters in the eye, and Łizhin claws at its chest, killing it. She shoots another and then ducks as a third attacks her. Mac and Dólii rescue her, but a bináá’yee aghání strikes Mac from behind.

Nizhoni watches in horror as Mac falls. Łizhin dives with Nizhoni on her back, trying to catch Mac. They are knocked off course by the battle but see Mac safely caught by Spider Woman’s net. A giant bináá’yee aghání comes up behind Nizhoni, surprising her when it targets Mac instead of the heralds or guardians until she recognizes the rider: Mr. Charles. Nizhoni longs to rescue Mac, but Łizhin’s wing is damaged.

Davery approaches as Łizhin prepares to land, saying that he has found the answer in his book but that it will “seem a little nuts” (288). Nizhoni promises that she trusts him, though she hesitates when Davery tells her to jump. Terrified, she does.

Bethany and Łigai, the White Mountain herald, catch Nizhoni. Bethany leaps off Łigai to battle Mr. Rock, landing neatly on Tsídii with Davery. Nizhoni and Łigai rush toward Mr. Charles as Nizhoni aims her last arrow. To her horror, Mr. Charles catches it. He throws it back at her, striking her in the heart and causing her to fall.

Nizhoni wakes on the ground, surprised both that she’s alive and that the arrow didn’t pierce her. Mr. Charles approaches, taunting her that he has captured Mac and will make him use his water power for fracking. Despite Mr. Charles’s attempts to break her confidence, Nizhoni remains convinced that she has her family and friends around her. She uses the lightning she absorbed when the arrow hit her to explode Mr. Charles.

The rest of the bináá’yee aghání explode in the sky, felled alongside their leader. Davery lands and helps Nizhoni to her feet, understanding her discomfort with having killed, even if it was a monster. Bethany lands and embraces her daughter. Spider Woman carries Mac to the ground, and he is unharmed if displeased with being wrapped in spider webbing. Spider Woman has found their dad, who embraces the kids and apologizes for being taken from them and for not believing Nizhoni. He is shocked to see Bethany, and the two embrace. A truck approaches; Nizhoni’s grandmother climbs out. She admits to knowing about the family legacy, though she was not called herself. She predicts, however, that the family will have more monsters to fight.

Nizhoni’s dad wonders how they will explain the return of long-lost relatives, but Spider Woman remains unconcerned, commenting that “this is the rez [where] stranger things have happened” (303). While everyone prepares to return and prepare a feast, Davery asks if Nizhoni is sad that she won’t be famous for her heroism. She tells him that “the important people know” (304).