Lilith, Nikanj, and the other ooloi come upon Curt’s camp. The humans come out to face them, angry and armed. Nikanj tells Lilith to stay back, that the ooloi will drug the humans to subdue them.

Lilith looks at Curt, wanting to kill him. Nikanj holds Lilith so that she cannot rush toward Curt, telling her over and over that she must leave Curt to the Oankali. Kahguyaht speaks to Tate, who is staying close to Gabriel. Tate pleads to be left alone, with tears running down her face. Kahguyaht calmly tells Tate not to harm anyone and that she can still have her freedom on Earth.

Gabriel says that they can have freedom where they are; Curt and the others loudly agree. Kahguyaht tells them that they will starve in the forest without the proper skills. It tells them that they were allowed to leave the camp so they could practice their survival skills and learn more from Lilith: “We had to know how you would behave after leaving us. We knew you might be injured, but we didn’t think you would kill one another” (228).

Curt shouts that they did not kill a human, but an animal.