Holes: Part 2, Chapter 35 Summary & Analysis

Zero's face is sunken and droopy. Stanley admits his canteen is empty and says he tried to bring the water truck. He insists they need to go back to camp, but Zero refuses and invites Stanley into the hole for "sploosh." Stanley squeezes through the hole, marveling at the fact that he can fit. He notices Zero's stolen shovel as Zero attempts to get a lid off of a glass jar. Zero explains there were sixteen jars buried under the boat and uses the shovel to break the top off. Zero offers the broken jar to Stanley. Stanley is afraid of the broken glass and whatever the sploosh is, as he thinks it's probably 100 years old and could be seriously contaminated.

Stanley wonders if Zero knows what bacteria are as he takes a sip. The liquid is sweet and peachy and the boys drink the entire jar. Zero then admits it was the last jar, and Stanley insists that they need to return to camp. He suggests that they'll probably send Zero to the hospital, like Barf Bag. Zero admits that Barf Bag stepped on a rattlesnake on purpose.

Zero asks what "Mar-ya Luh-oh-oo" is, and leads Stanley back aboveground to point at the boat. Stanley explains that Y can act as both a vowel and a consonant. Suddenly, Zero groans, grabs his stomach, and falls to the ground. Stanley feels helpless. When Zero's episode passes, the boys again argue about whether to go back to camp. Zero says he'd rather die in the desert than go back. Stanley stares at the mountains for a minute and then asks Zero to tell him if the fist-like mountain looks like anything. Slowly, Zero forms his hand into a fist and puts his thumb up.