Dawn

Tools are passed out to the group, including things that could be used as weapons, such as axes and machetes. Lilith speaks privately to the people who continue to be a problem, such as Curt, telling him that she chose to Awaken him because he was the kind of person needed down on Earth: “I want you to live to get down there. Don’t go Peter’s way, Curt” (202). The way he stares at her frightens Lilith and she asks Nikanj to put Curt back to sleep. Nikanj replies that Curt’s ooloi, Yahjahyi, thinks that Curt will be all right. Lilith asks Nikanj what Peter’s ooloi had thought of Peter. Nikanj says that Tehjaht had never told the other ooloi what it thought of Peter’s state of mind, so they had not realized there was a problem.

Lilith still does not believe that Curt can be trusted. Nikanj replies that Yahjahyi is ready for any trouble and that Celene will help as well since she does not want to lose Curt. Curt’s natural tendency to protect the vulnerable will not allow him to risk himself.

Gabriel tells Lilith that he does not believe Curt will be all right. Gabriel is no longer drugged and can speak freely. He thinks that Curt views the ooloi sexual act as akin to rape, even if the sex that goes on is confined to his mind. Gabriel says that does not matter and that Curt will not let the assault continue.

Lilith asks Gabriel how he has made his peace with sex with his ooloi and he replies, “Who says I have?” (203). Lilith is frightened and says they cannot lose Gabriel, too. He says he will not do anything drastic until he finds out for himself what is going on, as he still does not believe that they are not on Earth. Lilith says that Kahguyaht could show Gabriel things that would convince him, that might even convince Curt; Gabriel says that nothing will convince Curt. Gabriel maintains that Curt will eventually attack his ooloi as Peter did, only more effectively.

Lilith teaches the group how to build a roofed cabin like the one Lilith and the ooloi had built previously. The group learns how to cut tropical fruit from the tree, how to dig roots, and begins planting crops.

Two men and a woman take the tools they were given and run away into the forest. The Oankali decide not to follow them. Nikanj tells Joseph and Lilith that the escaped people are being watched by the ship, so if they are hurt, they will be tended to.

More humans leave the settlement, and their ooloi look like Tehjaht had when Peter died, still and silent, their tentacles clenched like lumps. Their mates come into the forest to take them away. Watching a man and woman tend to their ooloi mate, Lilith wonders how many other people might leave, and what they would do out in the forest. She even begins to doubt briefly that this is a ship, not Earth, and that perhaps they really could row away in a boat to freedom. Lilith does not truly believe this, but the doubt persists: “The thought would not let her alone no matter what facts she felt she knew. What if the others were right?” (207).

That evening, Tate tells Lilith that Curt and Celene are gone. They are both surprised that Curt didn’t harm an Oankali before he left. Tate then tells Lilith that she and Gabriel are leaving too, that night, along with some others. Tate says, “Listen, I’m not just telling you for the hell of it. We want you to go with us” (208). Lilith brings Tate away from the center of the camp, where they can’t be heard by the other humans; Tate continues to tell her that Gabriel has already asked Joseph to go, and he has agreed.

Lilith maintains that they are on an island, on a ship, and she believes that they will come to walls if they run away; “All because the Oankali said so,” Tate says (209). Lilith says her beliefs are based on what she saw and felt, but Tate says that was what the Oankali made her see and feel. Lilith says that Nikanj was too young to manipulate what she felt and saw. Tate starts to say awkwardly that Lilith and Nikanj are close, but ends up not going anywhere with her comment. Tate says that she had told Gabriel that she would get Lilith to promise not to tell the Oankali that they are leaving. Lilith wants to know if Tate thinks that she would; Tate finally says, “I’m beginning not to care what you do” (210).

Lilith walks away and Tate runs after her, apologizing, and asks Lilith again if she will leave with them. Lilith says that she and Joseph will meet them at a point on the riverbank after breakfast. Lilith returns to the camp, wondering how many of the Oankali have heard their conversation. She figures that Nikanj would know she planned to leave, and would send for its mates. She wonders why the other ooloi had not sent for their mates, since they must have known in advance that their bonded humans were leaving. Lilith considers that this must be a kind of test to prove that they have learned how to live in this environment.

Joseph comes up to Lilith and asks if she’s spoken to Tate. Lilith says she has, and that she needs to talk to him. Joseph tells her that he wants to go, making Lilith ask if he would truly leave her. Joseph asks why Lilith would stay, and if it is to be with Nikanj. Lilith replies that there is nowhere to run, but Joseph says that he needs to see for himself.

Joseph begs Lilith to come with him, to not make him leave her. Softly, Lilith agrees to go along.