Little Fuzzy · Chapter
Chapter XII explained
Jack Holloway mourns his lost Fuzzies, believing they were killed after escaping the Science Center.
What happens
Jack Holloway mourns his lost Fuzzies, believing they were killed after escaping the Science Center. Ben Rainsford returns to Beta Continent, and Gerd van Riebeek stays in Mallorysport. A fabricated story of Fuzzies attacking a child, Lolita Lurkin, sparks a citywide hunt with a reward for dead or alive Fuzzies. Gus Brannhard and Max Fane investigate, suspecting a frame-up by the Company. Judge Pendarvis issues an order protecting Fuzzies and threatening murder charges for killing them.
Themes in this chapter
Prejudice and Othering
The Fuzzies are vilified through a false attack story, inciting a citywide hunt and reward for their deaths, highlighting how prejudice fuels persecution.
Justice and the Legal System
Brannhard and Fane work within the legal system to counter the frame-up, while Judge Pendarvis issues protective orders, showing the struggle for justice.
Resistance and Self-Determination
The Fuzzies' survival and escape from the Science Center, along with the efforts of their human allies, represent resistance against corporate and governmental oppression.
Characters to notice
- Jack Holloway
Grieves for his lost Fuzzies, teaches Baby to tie knots, and is desperate to find the surviving Fuzzies before they are killed.
- Gus Brannhard
Works as special prosecutor, investigates the frame-up, and secures a judicial order to protect Fuzzies.
- Gerd van Riebeek
Struggles to prove Fuzzy sapience through logic, monitors news coverage of the Fuzzy hunt.
- Max Fane
Reports the Fuzzy hunt and reward, works with Brannhard to uncover the truth behind the attack story.
- Baby Fuzzy
Jack's remaining Fuzzy, learning to tie knots, oblivious to the danger.
- Nick Emmert
Resident General who offers a reward for Fuzzies dead or alive, implicated in the frame-up.
Key passages
“no trace of his Fuzzies from the time they had broken out of their cages at Science Center.”
Jack had found no sign of his Fuzzies since they escaped from the Science Center.
Jack's realization that his original Fuzzies likely did not survive.
“The cops are all over the city hunting the Fuzzies; they have orders to shoot on sight.”
Police are searching the entire city for the Fuzzies with orders to kill them immediately.
Max Fane reports the escalation of the hunt against the Fuzzies.
“I don't believe it! They wouldn't attack a child.”
Jack refuses to accept that Fuzzies would harm a child.
Jack's immediate disbelief in the fabricated attack story.
“The kid's lying, and if they ever get a veridicator on her, they'll prove it.”
The child is lying, and a veridicator test would expose the truth.
Gerd van Riebeek asserts the attack story is false.
“He's issuing an order restraining Emmert from paying any reward except for Fuzzies turned over alive and uninjured to Marshal Fane.”
Judge Pendarvis orders that rewards can only be paid for Fuzzies delivered alive and unharmed to Marshal Fane.
Legal intervention to protect Fuzzies from being killed for reward.
