In 2086, the surviving Chestnuts relocate to a Charity House provided by the federal government in Lincolnton, Georgia, which they alone inhabit. For the first week, Sarat can't fall sleep in the house, which she considers a form of blood money. When Sarat isn't away on one of her many mysterious trips to the Tennessee border, she insists that the family only use fossil fuel power.

Simon suffers from severe brain damage owing to a gunshot wound sustained during the Camp Patience massacre. His caretaker is Karina Chowdhury, a woman of Bangladeshi descent. While Simon can feed and clothe himself, he requires constant care and struggles to emotionally connect with people on a meaningful level. Meanwhile, people from all over the South come to pray with Simon whom they call the Miracle Boy. One woman even asks Karina to hold over $100,000 for her because she no longer trusts the banks. Moreover, the woman believes God will watch over her money if it's near Simon.

At his cabin in the Talladega forest, Gaines teaches Sarat to shoot a rifle. One day, Joe visits and gives Sarat a QBU-20 sniper rifle which she names "Templestowe" after the woman who assassinated President Ki.