Lilith and Joseph wait at the designated spot on the riverbank, carrying food and tools. Joseph remarks that the others may have already come and gone, but Lilith thinks that they are waiting to be sure that she has not told the Oankali about them leaving.

Joseph says that leaving is the best thing for Lilith and that Gabriel has heard people speaking out against Lilith again. Lilith replies that they are heading toward the dangerous people, not away from them. Joseph asks Lilith if she wants to go back to the camp. She answers that she does, but knows that they will not. Lilith knows how badly Joseph wants to leave. Soon Gabriel, Tate, Leah, and Wray arrive and they head upriver.

When Lilith steps away from the group to relieve herself, she returns to find them all staring at her: “‘What is it?’ she asked. ‘Are you waiting for me to desert you and go back to the Oankali? Or maybe you think I have some magic way of signaling them from here? What is it you suspect me of?’” (214).

Gabriel replies that they’re just nervous and unsure of what is about to happen and that they’re focusing their anxiety on Lilith because she has been altered by the Oankali.