Moon of the Crusted Snow

Justin Scott is the story’s antagonist. He mysteriously arrives on the reserve, heavily armed and seeking refuge, after the power goes out and civilization collapses into chaos. Scott is physically intimidating: he’s bigger and stronger than any of the Anishinaabe people. The community is wary of Scott at first, though many are drawn to his intimidating stature and aggression. Scott quickly oversteps his bounds and kills Mark, another person seeking refuge on the reserve, against the advice of the community’s elders. Some people believe that Scott’s aggression will protect them, however, so they disband from the community and join forces with Scott in an abandoned bungalow complex on the reserve. As time progresses however, Evan and his partner, Nicole, realize that Scott’s followers are growing weaker and thinner, while Scott grows stronger and fatter. They learn that Scott is intimidating his followers, subjugating women (notably Meghan, who also sought refuge on the reserve) and forcing them to do his bidding. He even forces several people to steal dead bodies so that he can cannibalize them for food. At the story’s climax, the community confronts Scott about his actions, and he retaliates by shooting Evan—but Meghan ends the confrontation by shooting Scott in the back, killing him. Scott’s character is a metaphor for historical European settlers who encountered and colonized First Nations people. In the end, however, Scott’s domineering personality causes his own demise, as his faction of the community becomes demoralized and erodes beyond repair.