Absalom's father recently died and appointed Jason as his legal guardian. Jason, Jeremy and Clancey take the boy to a special school for the deaf to be evaluated. They are informed by the head of the school that Absalom is not mute, but was so badly beaten by his insane father that he learned never to utter the slightest sound. The school is vastly overcrowded, but they will make a place for Absalom if he can learn to talk. Jason volunteers Jeremy to learn how to teach him how to speak.

    Upon their return to Seattle, they meet Absalom's uncle. Oliver Tray blames his nephew for causing his brother's madness and is determined to have the boy committed to an institution. To save him from this, Jeremy must teach Absalom both to talk and to trust. The first lesson ends with most of the furniture in the Bolt cabin lying in pieces on the floor. Jeremy takes him on a picnic with Candy, Molly and Christopher, where a breakthrough occurs when when Absalom says his first words. This success is short-lived; in saving Christopher from a rattlesnake, Absalom pushes Christopher aside and accidentally knocks him out—Jeremy thinks that Absalom has hurt Christopher in a rage and yells at him. Absalom screams and runs off into the woods.

    Jeremy finds Absalom at his father's old cabin, but the boy no longer trusts him. Jeremy gives up and starts to leave, when Absalom realizes what he is about to lose and reaches out, speaking to Jeremy. They return to Seattle together, only to find that the circuit court has awarded Absalom's uncle full custody. Jason goes to see Mr. Tray and says that he has learned from friends that Howard Tray was mad before Absalom was born. He believes that Oliver Tray is deathly afraid that he, too, will go insane, and is falsely blaming Absalom to hide from this fear.

    Jason leaves and sends Absalom to see his uncle. At first, Oliver Tray does not believe Absalom is truly forming words and understands what he is doing. Once Mr. Tray recognizes this and realizes the suffering that Absalom has been through, he arranges for Absalom to attend the school in San Francisco.