faith-and-doubt

This chapter recounts the journey of a small Northern Plains tribe led by the holy woman Atsula and guided by their mammoth god Nunyunnini, who warns them of an impending, otherworldly doom that will force them to migrate eastward to a new land. Despite Atsula's doubts and eventual death, the tribe follows the god's command, crossing the land bridge into the New World where they establish new tribes and gods, but eventually forget Nunyunnini. The chapter explores themes of faith, migration, survival, and the transformation of spiritual beliefs over generations.

In this chapter, the discovery of a significant extraterrestrial transmission is confirmed at the Arecibo Radio Telescope, leading to a flurry of reactions from various characters, including Jimmy Quinn, who feels overwhelmed by the attention. Meanwhile, personal tensions arise between Anne and George Edwards regarding the implications of space exploration, showcasing the intersection of personal and professional stakes in the face of monumental discovery.