Snow Falling on Cedars

Alvin Hooks cross-examines Hatsue. He finds it strange that she told no one that Kabuo was excited about the possibility of buying back the seven acres and that neither Kabuo nor Hatsue told police that Kabuo helped Heine repair the dead battery. Hatsue insists there was no opportunity for them to do so because Kabuo was arrested so quickly after learning of Heine’s death.

The next witness is Josiah Gillanders, president of the San Piedro Gill Netters Association. He testifies that it is extremely rare for a fisherman to board another’s boat, but it would be normal if one of them needed help, as there is a code of honor among fishermen to always aid one another. Gillanders admits, when cross-examined by Hooks, that the presence of three batteries aboard Heine’s boat is strange but is adamant that Kabuo did not murder Carl Heine.

Kabuo recalls his first few meetings with Gudmundsson, who asked Kabuo to reveal the truth about what happened. Kabuo recalls the night to himself:

On September 15, he set out for Ship Channel. By 8:30 pm, the fog had thickened. He set his net, aware that it would be difficult to see the freighter lanes because of the fog.