death-and-dying

The chapter opens with the death of Nathan Arkwright, a pioneering science fiction author known for the Galaxy Patrol series, depicting his final moments and reflections on mortality and legacy. It then shifts to his granddaughter Kate Morressy, who learns of his death through the newspaper and navigates her complicated family relationships, deciding to attend his funeral despite her mother's indifference. The chapter establishes Arkwright's cultural impact and introduces Kate's personal and professional context.

In this chapter, Blossom recalls a childhood memory of hiding from an imagined Monster, which parallels her current fear and isolation during her father's dying days. She accidentally falls into a deep root and finds Alice Nemerov injured nearby, who reveals that Neil murdered Blossom's father to prevent the leadership transition intended for Jeremiah Orville. The chapter explores Blossom's growing distrust of Neil and her conflicted feelings toward Orville, as well as the haunting presence of past and present ghosts and monsters.