Walter decides to tell John the truth—that he found Ida in the woods after a wildfire. He was telling people his wife, Isabelle, died, and that he was raising Ida alone. Ida is strange and has always attracted unwanted attention at the various locations where they’ve lived. Walter hopes he can gain clarity by telling John his story.

Walter is working on a run-down boat, the Maple Frog, owned by Percy DuGreen, the Captain, and Jess Folquist, the first mate. They are at the Bassoon Saloon in Marinette, Wisconsin—a twin town to Menominee—when a wildfire reaches the area. Everyone leaves the saloon in a panic, and Percy orders them back to the boat, which can’t support fleeing people. Jess fires up the engine, Walter pushes the boat away from the dock, and Percy yells for them to hurry as people approach. Four people try to swim to the boat, and another fires a gun, but they get away from the shore. Percy wants to go far into the bay, but Jess disagrees, saying it is too dangerous.

Walter was on the boat for three weeks. Originally, he was traveling to live with his sister, Louise, who claimed she could find him work laying railroad tracks.