culture-ship-avatar

In this chapter, Cossont awakens in a downed shuttle on the cold, airless surface of Eshri after an attack, alongside the android Eglyle Parinherm and her familiar Pyan. The dead trooper's suit exhibits unnatural twitching, suggesting hostile presence nearby, possibly a loitering sub-munition. Meanwhile, the Culture ship Passing By And Thought I’d Drop In drifts over Zyse, preparing for the Gzilt's Subliming, while its avatar navigates court politics under tight control. The chapter culminates in a sudden attack on the shuttle, throwing Cossont and Parinherm into danger.

In this chapter, Cossont lounges on the raft Apranipryla with QiRia, an extremely old man whose memories are stored throughout his body, and Sklom, the avatar of the ancient Culture ship Warm, Considering. They discuss the nature of memory, longevity, and love, revealing QiRia's unique biological and technological adaptations to preserve his vast experiences. Later, Cossont awakens in a Culture ship shuttle named Mistake Not, recovering from a near-fatal incident, and meets the ship's avatar Berdle, who expresses uncertainty about factional allegiances and the current situation.