Messenger: Chapter Seventeen Summary & Analysis

By that evening, Matty is in unspeakable pain. He tells Kira the truth and admits that he doesn't know what to do. He says they can't go back through the poisonous vines, and he pulls his sleeves back to show her his arms. They're so swollen that the skin is split and oozing in places. Kira and Matty decide to keep going. They find a pond where Matty usually refills his water, but now it's stagnant. The smell worsens as they reach a swamp that Matty has never seen before. He decides that they should tie themselves together, and Kira fastens a vine around their waists. They inch through the swamp. Sharp reeds cut their legs, attracting mosquitos, and occasionally they get stuck in mud. Kira loses both of her sandals.

On the other side of the swamp, Matty pulls Kira out of the thick mud and notices that the mud has coated his feet and legs in what look like massive boots. The sight almost makes him laugh. He notices Kira's bleeding feet and legs and covers her legs in mud too, hoping to stop the bleeding and cool her hot skin. They can barely breathe due to the smell. Matty tries to sound optimistic as he leads Kira into the center of Forest.

Matty begins to hallucinate that he's floating above his body and Kira. He likes escaping the pain, but he wishes he could help himself and Kira. At one point, Kira asks to sit and rest. Matty leads her to a clearing, and after she sinks down on the blanket, Kira says that the branches seem to reach for her clothes, though they haven't gotten to her skin yet. Matty remembers how Ramon described Stocktender, who was entangled by Forest. He wonders if Forest teased and scared Stocktender before killing him.

Kira and Matty examine their wounds. Matty remembers how in Village, people would happily help those with trouble walking or with injured arms. He thinks he almost hears Village, but he knows it's not real. Both Kira and Matty realize they're having trouble breathing, and Matty considers using his gift. He thinks it's useless. As he looks down, he sees a thin vine inch toward him. It winds around his ankle, but withers when Matty cuts it. He knows this is just the beginning of the battle, and he believes he'll lose.

Kira begins to pull things out of her pack and ignores Matty's warning that it's too dangerous to remain here. He bitterly thinks that she's going to create an embroidery depicting their last hours, and thinks of some of the art books at Leader's homeplace. Some of the paintings show battles, severed heads, and nails in a man's hands. Kira's hands fly over her embroidery frame. Finally, she says that Leader has entered Forest and is coming to help them. Matty says that Leader can see beyond; he'll know where they are.