environmental-remediation

The chapter presents a first-person narrative from a waste cleanup specialist, or 'waste gipsy,' who travels globally to remediate environmental disasters caused by industrial pollution. The narrator reflects on the hardships and unique experiences of this nomadic, dangerous profession, emphasizing the pride and importance of their work despite its challenges and the lack of societal recognition. The narrative also touches on the personal life of the narrator, who is unmarried and indifferent to warnings from Geraldine about the difficulties of such a lifestyle for a married man.

The narrator meets Xuly Beth in a virtual reality environment called Hopcroft's Cockaigne, where they discuss the challenges of tracking a disruptive criminal known as the Kat. Xuly Beth offers a strategic insight that the Kat must rely on others to cause significant harm, suggesting a new investigative approach. The chapter ends with an intimate encounter between the two characters, highlighting the contrast between virtual and physical experiences.