CHAPTER 12

Peregrine meets Woodcarver, who candidly explains her centuries-long self-breeding strategy, its toll, and her physical decline. Peregrine argues that the aliens’ arrival marks a world-changing moment and that she can choose to change now. Their closeness turns intimate, rekindling Woodcarver’s resolve.

Invigorated, Woodcarver brings the human "picture box" to Scrupilo’s lab, where Scrupilo, Vendacious, and Scriber debate whether it is animal or machine. Together they systematically explore its branching menus, mapping paths and resetting after dead ends, witnessing moving images of stars and alien cities. They identify structured sequences—numerals and repeated scenes—revealing the device is trying to teach the humans’ language.

In parallel, Johanna recovers from a brutal but successful surgery and assesses her captivity. She studies the walled, maze-like city and the Tines’ pack-based minds, vacillating between hope for Jefri and grief for her parents.

When a familiar pack returns her dataset and repeats kindermode prompts, Johanna responds, confirming they have triggered child-language modes. She chooses to engage, beginning Samnorsk naming games to learn about her captors and to seek news of Jefri, while holding onto the possibility of revenge if needed.