Chapters 23, 24 and 25 Summary

These three chapters narrate the author's experiences deep within the cave.

"Dreamtime Revealed" The author is shown into a large central cave with several branching corridors, which open into other caves. These other caves hold the artifacts of The Real People's journeys into the mutant world, various artifacts used in spiritual rituals, and statues embodying various manifestations of human consciousness. That night, the tribe performs a ceremony in which the author is allowed to take part - she is to embody the spirit and way of the kookaburra, a beautiful, strong bird with a harsh cry that was to act as a messenger to the world. After the ceremony, a smaller group of tribe members sit in a circle with the author, with Tribal Elder sitting directly opposite her. He reveals that the elders of the Real People are preparing to...