Peace Like a River

The night before the Lands plan to leave Roxanna’s, she takes them for a picnic dinner at a burning lignite vein amidst the hills of the Badlands. Reuben and Swede are fascinated by the steam and sporadic flames rising from fissures in the earth, despite it reminding them of literary and biblical hellscapes.

During their picnic, a man approaches them on foot and they recognize Andreeson. He says he knows Davy is in the Badlands, though he won’t share his evidence other than to mention reports of stolen pigs from a nearby rancher and to vaguely confirm someone has actually seen Davy. Andreeson asks Jeremiah to drive around with him for a couple of days to look for Davy. He believes Jeremiah can lead them to Davy by supernatural means, as back in Roofing, Superintendent Holgren told Andreeson that Jeremiah had such abilities.

Jeremiah refuses, saying what Andreeson is talking about isn’t faith, but something else, something foolish. However, he tells Andreeson if anything develops with the search for Davy, he can find the family at the Cawley place. Reuben and Swede are happy to learn Davy’s been spotted nearby, and that they’ll get to stay at Roxanna’s now.