At Enid’s house, Wyatt torments Chub. As the two are roughhousing in the woods, an unusual sight disturbs them. It is a fluid-filled sac: a deer’s womb containing a dead fetus. Wyatt drags it home to show Enid. Notably, the family goat is also covered in sores, having been hit by spray recently. No one connects the dots. Rich and Eugene appear, with Eugene threatening to beat up any “hippies” who stand in the way of further logging.

Rich collects his pay from the Sanderson office and from the friendly secretary, Marsha. While there, Rich takes the bold step to ask to speak to Merle. Merle is a step ahead and knows that Rich owns the 24-7 and needs to rely on Sanderson infrastructure. Still, Merle makes a show of magnanimity and shares a map of his planned roads with Rich. On paper, they go exactly where Rich needs them to. Merle also tells Rich he can mill his timber at Sanderson’s mill. Merle just needs Rich to see through work on Damnation Grove, if work is allowed to resume there after the discovery of the human skull. The forestry board is due to decide.