Chapter 7, Stepping Discs Summary

As Nessus approaches, Chiron leaves abruptly. Louis explains to Speaker that the puppeteers must be interested in the Ringworld because it's a potential solution to their population problems. Nessus gets close to the dome, but he goes into fearful hysterics. Louis goes to calm him down and learns that Nessus convinced those-who-lead to let him mate. He threatened that if he were taken off the mission, Speaker would refuse to go. If he comes back from the mission, he will get to mate with the leader, called the Hindmost.

Nessus leads the party out of the park, and they travel through the puppeteer city on stepping discs, open transport pads that jump a block at a time. Teela runs out ahead of everyone else, fearlessly exploring. The party does not see any puppeteers as they go through the city...