Summary

This chapter returns to the format of columns devoted to the narratives of individual characters: Saturn’s narratives in third person, those of other characters in first.

Saturn – Saturn receives a postcard from Cameroon “on the day that EMF and its recruits launched their assault.” The postcard triggers fond memories, but he doesn’t have time to dwell on them: the characters are coming.

Little Merced – Little Merced describes her inability to get rid of the lingering stench of death about her. She also tries to build her protective mental shell, but the smell keeps distracting her. The black marks of ink on the page obliterating her thoughts, however, become larger.

Froggy – Froggy gives a speech urging the EMF to fight “against the history being written by Saturn.” After the speech, characters pull out their own words, their own stories, in letters...