Still haunted by her experiences in Africa, Orleanna imagines the political meetings that led to Lumumba's demise and Joseph Mobutu's installation as leader of the Congo nation. According to a U.S. Senate investigative committee in 1975, the United States government, including Eisenhower and the National Security Council, suggested the coup and offered to pay for it. As a result, Lumumba was arrested and Mobutu was put in charge of the army. Lumumba escaped but was recaptured and beaten to death, leaving the Congo under the despotic rule of Mobutu.
After the episode with the ants, the villagers return to Kilanga to find all of their food supplies eaten. The drought continues, causing water to dry up and plants to die. The people long for rain and are beginning to doubt the effectiveness of Jesus. At church one Sunday as Nathan is giving a sermon, Tata Ndu interrupts and announces that the village will hold elections right there regarding whether or not the Kilangans will choose Jesus as the village's personal God. Despite Nathan's outrage, the vote takes place, and Jesus loses, 11 to 56.
Soon after the vote in the church, Tata Ndu announces that the entire village will participate in a large hunt. Leah, who has been honing her hunting skills, wants to join the men in hunting. Her request is met with disapproval from Tata Ndu, Tata Kuvudundu, and the other old men. Anatole argues for Leah and for the need to embrace change, and many of the young people agree with him. The village votes on the matter, with the vote 51 to 45 in favor of letting Leah hunt. Tata Kuvudundu speaks out against the decision, stating that the animals will rebel against such unnatural behavior. After the meeting, Nathan and Leah get into a fight over her desire to hunt. Nathan forbids it, and Leah defies him. Later, Anatole finds a mamba snake in his bed and is lucky he isn't killed.
