55 Book Three, Chapter Five

Published: March 11, 2008, 6:45 p.m.

"Assam & Darjeeling" is the story of two children who set out to rescue their dead mother from the Underworld -- a nightmare place where the mythological desperately tries to keep pace with the world above. The children encounter cell-phone carrying demons, forgotten deities from defunct pantheons waiting tables, and one nasty character called Juniper who takes a particular, personal interest in their quest. Jee spends most of the fifth chapter of Book Three doing dishes and talking to the shaggy man. At a certain point, they discuss coins as well as the river and the wheel.