Enjoying the sisterly companionship of Beloved, Denver sits on the bed and smiles as Beloved dances. Denver questions Beloved's name and her method of escaping the netherworld to see her mother's face once more. Denver begs Beloved not to leave; Beloved retorts that it’s Sethe whom she needs—not her sister. Denver tries to soothe Beloved’s outburst by retelling the story of how Amy Denver helped Sethe give birth.
Sethe, instinctively wary of telling too much to a white woman who could easily turn in a runaway slave for a reward, had identified herself to Amy as Lu. Unburdened by race prejudice, Amy set about easing Sethe's pain. She hummed as she performed primitive first aid to Sethe’s swollen feet and maimed back. She also fashioned slippers from pieces of Sethe's shawl, which she filled with leaves. By noon, Amy and Sethe had reached the Ohio River and located a boat with one oar.
Water seeping into the boat threatened to engulf Sethe in her birthing labor, but she succeeded in delivery on her fourth push. Amy wrapped the infant in her skirt, and the two women waded ashore. At twilight, Amy left, admonishing Sethe to tell the child how "Miss Amy Denver. Of Boston" brought her into the world. Sethe, relaxing into sleep, murmured the name "Denver."
