Skink—No Surrender

Richard finally has proof of Malley’s location when he sees “my cousin’s yellow swimsuit […] and the gray hoodie that Malley had been wearing the night her mother dropped her at the Orlando airport” (142). Richard’s original quest—to locate Malley and find help—has changed, though. When Nickel leaves Richard on the boat, Richard is on his own. As the novel’s protagonist, Richard must find the strength in himself to reach his goals. Being alone on the houseboat signifies that Richard’s journey is about to test him in the harshest way: without any allies.

Malley seems to confirm this when she “swore that the canoe had been empty when they’d spotted it” (168). Richard loses hope that Skink is alive, and the pressure of acting alone can either paralyze him or push him forward. In typical hero’s journey fashion, he chooses to continue his journey. Because he is now alone and face-to-face with the story’s antagonist, Tommy, Richard must rely on the information and tools he has gathered on his quest, including deception. When Tommy finds Richard on the houseboat, Richard tells him that his name is Carson. He quickly develops an elaborate lie about his identity, something he and Skink practiced multiple times on their road trip.

Richard also utilizes dishonesty when he tries to lure Tommy into the canoe so he can “head upriver and trick him into stepping ashore. Then I’d leave him there” (162-163). Malley and Tommy are also deceptive characters. Malley does expose Tommy’s real name, but Tommy quickly lies to Richard by saying “Talbo was a superclose friend of mine” (156); Richard knows this isn’t true. Malley takes Tommy’s side, although Richard “realized what she was trying to do—calm Tommy down” (157). In this sense, Richard and Malley are both deceiving Tommy, who thinks he’s deceiving Richard.

Richard’s deception is not enough. On his trip with Skink, Richard learned Skink’s philosophy that sometimes violence is necessary when protecting endangered people and animals. Richard must use this tool, as well, if he is going to reach his goals. It takes high stakes to push Richard into physical action: “All of a sudden Tommy was waving a gun” (173). The threat on his life—and Malley’s—becomes immediate. Time has run out. Richard must act if he is going to fulfill his role as the protagonist: “I didn’t wait for the shot […] [Tommy] went down still clutching the pistol, and I was more or less on top of him” (173). Richard has chosen to act. He utilized the tools given to him by his mentors and companions to confront his antagonist, despite the risks. At this point, he has found the confidence and skill to act alone if necessary. This bravery pushes Richard into a new phase of his journey—one that allows for the return of Skink. As the hero, Richard needed to earn the aid of his greatest ally through action.

The change in Malley’s appearance signifies two key ideas. The first is that Malley is on her own coming-of-age journey; though it isn’t the focus of the novel, Malley’s journey is important to Richard because it illustrates how his best friend has changed. A key trope of coming-of-age stories is shifting friendship dynamics. While Malley is still Richard’s closest friend, she isn’t the same Malley he has known his entire life. When Richard first sees Malley, he notes, “Her hair was dyed jet black, even blacker than her jeans […] The pink bracelets I’d thought I’d seen weren’t bracelets at all—they were raw marks made by handcuffs” (149). Malley’s identity is at risk. To control and hide Malley, Online Talbo forced her to alter key aspects of her physical appearance. This strips autonomy away from Malley and moves her further from her life at home. In this way, her new appearance shows the stakes of Richard’s journey.

Tommy’s plans also raise the stakes. Richard, posing as Carson, asks about the nature of Tommy and Malley’s relationship. Malley responds that she and Tommy are, “just friends,” but Tommy explains, “‘We’re gettin’ married’ […] like it was a done deal” (171). This is another mechanism through which Tommy can take away Malley’s identity—and her future freedom. This is a deeper threat than dyed hair because it could irrevocably alter who Malley is.

The natural world acts as an ally for Richard in Skink’s absence. When Tommy nearly finds Richard’s hiding spot on the boat, the rattlesnake rattle on his neck keeps Tommy at bay: “the eighteen buttons on that rattle started making some noise—enough to freak out the Talbo imposter” (149). This gives Richard an opportunity to let Malley know he’s hiding, which gives them a head start on deceiving Tommy.

As Tommy tries to kill a catfish for dinner, it skewers him with “spines that are covered with toxic slime” (159). This gives Richard two advantages. First, it gives him the chance to lure Tommy onto the canoe in the hopes of finding more food. Second, Tommy’s injury hinders him in his fight with Richard: “he started slugging me with his free hand, which happened to be the one that the catfish gored. It had swollen up like a melon […] Each blow probably hurt Tommy more than it did me” (174). Tommy’s gun makes him an overpowered antagonist, but his hand injury is a significant disadvantage.

Another fish, a bass, prevents Richard from getting onto the canoe with Tommy. Richard realizes that Tommy “didn’t care if I caught any fish for dinner; the canoe ride offered him an easy way to get rid of [me]” (164). Richard changes his plan to fish from the boat, which Tommy resists. At the last second, “Out of the river rocketed a big bronze-shouldered bass” (164). Eating the bass for dinner makes their canoe trip unnecessary, which keeps Richard from harm.

Before Tommy and Malley return to the lifeboat, Richard falls asleep and has a dream that he is golfing with both Trent and his deceased father. Turtle nests dot the course, and “from each mound poked a single striped soda straw” (146). In this dream, Richard is with the most influential men in his life, with Skink represented by the straws. When Richard finds the sunken Toyota in his dream, he can’t yell for his father despite trying. Richard is alone: Skink is gone, his father is dead, and Trent is at home. The growing responsibility on Richard’s shoulders clearly gives him anxiety.