Kunta deals with his dilemma about Bell by polishing all the different parts of the master’s buggy. When he feels warm and soft toward Bell, Kunta polishes slowly and softly. When he feels irate and irritated toward Bell, he polishes fast and furious.

Kunta even begins considering things a bit more controversial, such as how much pull Bell has with the master of the plantation and how that could lead to an advantage for both of them. He also considers how Bell knows how to work magic with plants, not only with the poultice but also with certain leaves that stop his eyes from itching. However, Kunta could never approve of her pipe-smoking habit or of the way she dances by wagging her bottom every which way.

Kunta finally remembers how the men in Juffure, when they are ready for a wife, would choose a special, seasoned piece of wood and carve something for the woman. Kunta decides to do this very thing for Bell. In fact, Kunta is sitting on a large block of hickory wood seasoned just perfectly. Since it is of no use to anyone else, just lying there for him to sit on while polishing the buggy, Kunta moves the large block back to his cabin. For a long time, Kunta just stares at it, marveling at how perfectly seasoned it is. Then Kunta begins chopping at the wood in a very rough shape of a wood bowl. Kunta then switches from an axe to a file and a knife. For days and days, Kunta works on it until the wood turns smooth and strong under his hands. Finally, Kunta finds another big hickory branch, which he carves into a pestle. As Kunta sits back and looks at his work, he realizes that this very mortar and pestle wouldn’t look out of place in Juffure. Now Kunta just needs to find the courage to give the gift to Bell.

Kunta waits two weeks before he takes the mortar and pestle along to check whether the master needs the buggy after lunch one afternoon. While Bell’s back is turned after giving the report,Kunta simply sets the bowl down and ambles away. Bell picks up Kunta’s beautiful piece of craftsmanship and cries. It’s the first time in her life that anyone made something for her.

They both feel excited and confused at the same time. Neither Kunta nor Bell is sure what to say to each other the next time they meet. Bell decides to simply ask what it should be used for. Kunta angrily grunts that it is for her to grind corn. Both of them feel like fools and don’t say much more to each other for many days. However, one day, Bell hands Kunta a tin of delicious cornbread. Kunta is sure that Bell ground the corn with the mortar and pestle. Kunta asks to speak to Bell after dinner that night.

Kunta and Bell talk outside after dinner. More precisely, Bell does most of the talking. She talks about George Washington being president and the master’s love for Missy Anne and the fact that Kunta’s old master wasn’t the one who ordered Kunta’s foot chopped off. Bell ends up telling Kunta the entire history of the Waller family all the way back to England.

Kunta spends more and more time in Bell’s cabin and finds out all sorts of things. Bell tells Kunta that William Waller made a will giving his slaves to his wife if he ever has one again and to Missy Anne if he doesn’t. Kunta also learns that...