Contents
CHAPTER 39
Overview
Steel denies culpability and leverages Jefri as a hostage, but Tyrathect reveals Steel’s lies and leads Jefri and Amdi into secret tunnels. As Steel floods passages with oil and chaos spreads, Pilgrim’s broadcast stalls Woodcarver’s fire while Pham, Johanna, and Blueshell search. Steel then arms for demolition and confronts the resurgent Flenser Fragment, launching an attack.
Summary
Steel insists Johanna was misled by Woodcarver, but Ravna and Pham doubt him. Privately, Pham argues Steel is the true enemy yet still needs access to the Countermeasure. In the castle, Tyrathect escorts Jefri and Amdi into the lower corridors, then confesses Steel’s deceptions, replaying recent radio talk and live Pack chatter that reveal Steel intends to coerce Ravna and kill the Visitors.
Accepting the truth, Jefri and Amdi choose escape. Tyrathect shows a hidden hatch into wall passages and continues relaying Steel’s orders. As they crawl upward to the outer openings, Tyrathect warns Steel could pour oil into the tunnels; the children press on into darkness.
Outside, Pham, Johanna, Blueshell, and the pack Pilgrim maneuver their flier along the castle perimeter. Steel deploys infantry around the walls while archers prepare kettles of oil. Pilgrim uses loudspeakers to warn Woodcarver’s forces, prompting Steel to threaten Jefri over the comm. To avoid igniting oil near possible exits, Pham halts beamer use and has Woodcarver’s artillery pause while they circle, watching for Jefri.
Steel orders oil flooding of the tunnels and positions troops for a public killing to break the Visitors’ resolve. He also prepares demolition, arming himself with crossbows and a bomb-hidden radio cloak to destroy the refugee ship and sleeping humans.
In the supply corridors, Steel encounters the full Flenser Fragment, now reunited and grievously diseased. Flenser claims strategic survival through saving the children and blocking Steel’s sabotage. Steel taunts that Tyrathect’s soul underlies Flenser’s newfound confidence, seizing the instant of hesitation to fire and leap for the kill.
Who Appears
- SteelRuler of Starship Hill; uses Jefri as leverage, floods tunnels with oil, plans demolition, confronts Flenser and attacks.
- Jefri OlsndotLearns Steel’s betrayal from Tyrathect; escapes into wall tunnels toward an outside exit.
- Amdiranifani (Amdi)Jefri’s pack-friend; translates Pack chatter, aids the tunnel escape while terrified for Jefri’s safety.
- Tyrathect / Flenser FragmentAs Tyrathect guides Amdijefri’s escape; later, the reunited Flenser confronts Steel, momentarily hesitates, is attacked.
- Pham NuwenRejects Steel’s terms; maneuvers the flier, delays firing to avoid igniting oil, focuses on locating Jefri.
- Johanna OlsndotRescued by Pham; fears for Jefri; urges caution near the walls during the search.
- Ravna BergsndotNegotiates with Steel, monitors movements, reports threats against Jefri and shifts in battle.
- BlueshellPilots the flier along the battlements, adjusts tactics to support the search and avoid friendly harm.
- PilgrimPack ally; uses loudspeakers to sway the battle and stop artillery, helps interpret Steel’s deployments.
- ShreckSteel’s lieutenant; coordinates oil flooding and troop positioning, frays under pressure.