His mother having just died, John stumbles upon a group of Deltas getting their soma rations, and he looks on, muttering “O brave new world” (210). In his despair, he comes across an idea: “Linda had been a slave, Linda had died; others should live in freedom, and the world be made beautiful” (210). He stands and begins to regale the Deltas around him with a florid speech, telling them to “Throw it all away, that horrible poison” (211). Meanwhile, someone calls the authorities, recognizing that a disturbance is brewing.

Helmholtz and Bernard are looking for John when they get a call, informing them that he “Seems to have gone mad” (212). They rush out to find him. They arrive just as he has begun tossing the soma tablets, to the horror of the Deltas. They begin to mob John; Helmholtz pushes to his side. Together, the two attempt to defend themselves, while Bernard hangs in the periphery, shouting for help. Authorities show up with vaporized soma and a Synthetic Music Box projecting the “Voice of Reason” (214). Quickly the mob calms and dissipates and the authorities snatch up John, Helmholtz, and Bernard.