The Water Keeper

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, death, death by suicide, graphic violence, child sexual abuse, child abuse, animal cruelty, suicidal ideation, and substance use.

Murph walks with Summer and Ellie to the other side of Key West. He holds Ellie’s hand most of the way. They come to a collection of cottages, and Murph knocks on three of them before someone finally answers. It is a very old woman, who leads them out back toward the ocean. She introduces herself as Sister June.

Murph asks the woman about the Sisters of Mercy, and she tells him that she is one of the only remaining members. He then asks about Sister Margaret and Sister Florence, showing her the letter. Sister June explains that she never knew any Florence, but Margaret is buried in the cemetery. She also recalls a day when a young woman appeared, pregnant, but she stayed only briefly before leaving. Her eyes were the same deep blue as Ellie’s. She remembers her saying the word Apollumi.

Thanking her, Murph and the others leave. Back out on the road, Ellie angrily kicks the gate and begins to yell. She demands that Murph get her a plane.