Like a serpent
In the first chapter as the Angel is on a mission to cut Arizona’s water supply, the image of the Colorado River is compared to that of a serpent. It wound like a serpent through the desert.
Lucy’s dream
In the chapter that introduces the character of Lucy, it opens with a dream of water. She dreams of rain falling from the sky, Godwater, as American settlers called it. The rain was gentle as a kiss in Lucy’s dream. The dream contrasts with the reality of waking life, the dryness and dust.
Words as dust
Maria is the third main character in the novel. She is living barely making ends meet, together with her roommate Sarah. Maria realized early in her life the reality of the world she lives in. She remembers her father who died and who believed in a better world. Maria realized at some point that her father’s words were dust.
Angel as a ghost
Upon recruiting Angel, Catherine Case calls him a ghost to justify her need for a person like him. He is a ghost, no one will look for him, no one will notice his missing. He is perfect for the cruel tasks she has for him.
