Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use, death by suicide, graphic violence, child abuse, child death, and death.

During her years of planning, Carolyn daydreamed about how she and Steve would spend their time together. However, he’s been in the Library dormitories for over a month now and mostly just gets drunk, plays video games, and plays with Naga. He tries to convince her to make the new sun give off light, but she says she can’t. Steve went on a hunting trip in the Serengeti with Naga and is learning to speak the language of lions. Naga addresses Steve as “My Lord Hunter” and says it’s been foreseen that he’ll save them all (324).

News reports from Earth show a huge object spinning in the sky that appears to be the shadow of a pyramid. Carolyn tells Steve she projected the Library into normal space with the command “project and defend” (327). The military is preparing to bomb the pyramid, but Carolyn says it can’t harm them. She makes the Library walls transparent, and she and Steve watch the bombing like it’s a fireworks show. Steve admits he knew about the bombing plan from Erwin.