Chapters 37-39 and Coda Summary

Ha'anala dreams about her two dead children. Her husband is due home that day and as labor begins, a festive crowd gathers. The lander arrives full of game to cook and serve. Ha'anala is delighted to see humans and hear tales, but as her contractions weaken, she knows that she will die. She direct that the children be raised by Sofia and, overhearing Laaks arguing about something, asks Emilio to save her baby once she dies. They comfort her for nine hours, before Ha'anala breathes her last and Emilio performs a Cesarean and gives the stillborn CPR, refusing to let God claim it. He then sits beside Ha'anala's corpse, weeping for all of the losses he has known and whispering repeatedly, "God."

The priests awaken Emilio to report that thirty thousand troops are headed for them. The...