Liff is swept into the crowd gathered around the dead First Tree at the center of Landfall, where a wooden platform has been built beneath the branches. The press of people traps and nearly crushes Liff until Uncle Molder pulls Liff up onto the platform with councillors and militiamen, drunk, triumphant, and convinced that Liff must witness what is about to happen.

The prisoners are dragged forward: Portia is badly wounded and nearly limp, Fabian is beaten and bewildered, Paul fights with desperate flexibility, and Miranda remains upright and composed. Liff tries to reach Miranda, but Molder restrains Liff and explains that these outsiders are “bad people” blamed for robberies, killings, livestock theft, and arson. Liff understands that Molder and the Council need outsiders to blame so the town’s fear and anger do not turn inward.

The captives are placed beneath nooses. Portia is too injured to resist, Fabian seems not to grasp what is happening, and Paul’s children struggle in the crowd to reach Paul as the adults restrain them. Miranda breaks from her captors long enough to warn the town that Imir is dying and that Miranda and the others can save everyone, but the militiamen gag Miranda and force Miranda into position.

Mr Gembel addresses the crowd, declaring the prisoners proof that Seccers are among them and warning that more spies will be found. His speech intensifies suspicion within the crowd, turning neighbours’ eyes on one another. At Gembel’s order, the prisoners are shoved from the platform, and Liff screams along with the crowd.

Portia hangs slack, and Fabian twitches in confusion, but Paul’s body begins to deform impossibly. Paul’s joints and bones shift, Paul’s hands slip free of the bindings, and Paul’s skull and neck stretch through the noose while Paul’s children twist free from the crowd and converge on Paul to rejoin or retrieve him. As panic erupts and a gun fires, Liff looks toward Miranda and sees something happening to Miranda that is even worse.