Chapter Thirty-Two: Anna

Anna is brought to the Behemoth after security and medical shuttles have already transferred Melba/Clarissa and the Rocinante crew. She is greeted by Hector Cortez, who appears aged and injured, and he escorts her through the spinning drum while lamenting their expedition as hubris and divine punishment.

Anna challenges Cortez’s framing, insisting that their motives were unity and curiosity, not arrogance. As they move through the ship’s vast, audacious habitat, Anna reflects that human restlessness and ambition are strengths rather than sins, and that the slowdown may not be moral retribution.

Seeking her scattered congregation, Anna finds Chris Williams recovering in a refugee tent. He has lost half an arm and a leg but expects regrowth therapy later. They discuss how labels like heroism and evil are assigned without context. Anna argues that the unknown power disarmed humanity without annihilating it, implying intent beyond malice.

Chris reveals that Tara, the angry marine Anna had hoped to reach, died in the catastrophe, deepening Anna’s grief but reinforcing her belief that intent matters. After the visit, Anna goes to her assigned tent to rest.

Tilly Fagan arrives, overwhelmed with relief. Between gallows humor and a cigarette, Tilly asks Anna for a difficult favor: help “Claire” (Clarissa), the woman Anna previously subdued. Despite memories of violence and loss, Anna chooses compassion and agrees to help.