Content warning: This section contains a description of attempted rape.

Kahguyaht directs Lilith into one of the transport vehicles she has seen and they return home. Lilith worries that Nikanj will be punished for not keeping an eye on her. Once they get home, Kahguyaht takes Nikanj into Lilith’s room and Lilith stays in the outer room with Jdahya and Tediin.

Jdahya tries to explain to Lilith that Nikanj is having a difficult time. Kahguyaht is tasked with teaching the young ooloi and if Nikanj had not been put in the position of teaching Lilith the ways of the Oankali, Kahguyaht would have been her teacher, since ooloi handle the teaching of new species. Lilith shudders at that thought and says that they have all manipulated her into liking Nikanj. Lilith asks Jdahya for writing materials, but he refuses and says that Nikanj can help her remember without writing.

Jdahya opens the door to the next room and Lilith enters it, where Kahguyaht and Nikanj appear to be arguing. Kahguyaht asks Lilith if she can understand their Oankali, but she cannot. It asks her again slowly in Oankali and she can understand; Kahguyaht tells Nikanj, “Well, at least we know she’s capable of learning” (73).