The Bone Sparrow: Chapter 37 Summary & Analysis

Queeny kicks Subhi to wake up. Maá is already at the tent flap waiting. They tiptoe outside and climb on top of a container in the camp. From the top, they can see the sea. Eli was wrong: they can see it. And the sky is flickering pink, orange, blue, and purple. Subhi’s heart hurts, and he says that Eli said, “not ever.” Maá says that “Not ever can always change.” She’s holding a letter that Sarah gave her five days ago, but Maá won’t tell him what’s in it. It makes her smile when she reads it. Still, Eli was right the lights are beautiful. Jimmie will be watching too, and in Subhi’s head, they’re all watching. Hopefully Harvey is, too.

The Bone Sparrow burns in Subhi’s hand. Everything will change tomorrow (the duck, which Subhi rescued from the dirt, insists that Subhi is out of luck if he isn’t ready for this change). Sarah told Subhi what’s going to happen: he’s going to tell exactly what he saw. It’ll be easy. Subhi asked her to tell Harvey he’s sorry. Maá smiled when Subhi told her his choice, and she said that Subhi is brave like Ba. Though Sarah warned Subhi not to tell anyone else what he’s going to do (since all the same Jackets, including Beaver and Harvey, are still working), word must’ve gotten around. Subhi found broken rat traps on his bed along with his shoes. The shoes fit perfectly now.

Subhi hears a faraway sound getting louder. Maá leans over and asks Subhi if he hears it. The song seems to go right to Subhi’s bones, and Maá points to the sea. There, Eli’s whale is singing his song.