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compelled-contact
The Oankali have a biological and emotional need for tactile contact, which complicates their relationships with humans who fear or reject such intimacy.
1 chapter across 1 book
Lilith's Brood (1989)Octavia E. Butler
Chapter 110
In this chapter, the narrator follows Jesusa and Tomás after they cross a river, eventually joining them despite initial hesitation and mistrust. The narrator provides food, uses body tentacles to communicate and heal, and navigates the complex emotions and fears Jesusa and Tomás have about the Oankali and their healing abilities. The chapter explores themes of trust, bodily connection, and the tension between human autonomy and Oankali intervention.