Short Fiction · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Short Fiction by Andre Norton.
Chapter 1
The People of the Crater
Garin and his companions are rescued by the lizard-folk of Tav, who reveal the history of the Ancient Ones and the Black Ones, setting the stage for the conflict ahead.
Chapter 2
Through the Blue Haze
Six months after the Peace of Shanghai ends the great war, Captain Garin Featherstone, a jobless war pilot, is recruited by Gregory Farson for an Antarctic expedition to investigate a mysterious blue haze. During the flight into the haze, Garin's plane is taken over by an alien intelligence, forced to dive into a hidden green world beneath the ice. After the presence withdraws, his engine fails and he crashes into a fern-like tree.
Chapter 3
II: The Folk of Tav
Garin awakens injured in his crashed ship and is rescued by the lizard-like Folk of Tav. They heal him with advanced technology and introduce him to their cavern society, where he learns of a prophecy that he must rescue the Daughter and confront Kepta.
Chapter 4
III: Garin Hears of the Black Ones
Garin learns the Folk's language through a ray-enhanced lesson, discovers their advanced civilization inherited from the Ancient Ones, and hears of the Black Ones' atrocities. He is shown a vision of Thrala, the Daughter, imprisoned in the Caves of Darkness, and witnesses the plague-stricken victims of the Black Ones, learning of the mission to rescue her.
Chapter 5
IV: The Defeat of the Ancient Ones
The chapter recounts the ancient history of the Ancient Ones, their arrival on Earth, the creation of the Folk and other races, the rise of the Black Ones from forbidden unions, and the prophecy of a sun-haired youth who will rescue Thrala and defeat evil. It describes the final battle, the sacrifice of the Ancient Ones in the Room of Pleasant Death, and the current state of the sleeping dead.
Chapter 6
Into the Caves of Darkness
Garin is tasked by Trar to rescue Thrala from the Caves of Darkness before the Great Mists arrive. He is given a green metal rod as a weapon and is accompanied by the Ana. Urg guides him through the Place of Ancestors, where he sees the sleeping Ancient Ones and the legendary Thran and Thrala. Garin then sets out alone, crossing the River of Gold and a plain of boiling mud, before arriving at the entrance to the Black Ones' Caves.
Chapter 7
VI: Kepta’s Second Prisoner
Garin infiltrates the Caves of the Black Ones to rescue Thrala and Dandtan. He confronts Kepta in the morgel pit, secures Dandtan's release, and the two escape deeper into the caves, suspecting a trap as they find the guard rooms deserted.
Chapter 8
VII: Kepta's Trap
Thrala, Dandtan, and Garin are trapped by Kepta, who mocks them before sealing them in a dark corridor. Using the light-rod, they escape the room but face the dangers of the dark, including morgels and other creatures. The Ana guides them, and Garin prepares to confront a pair of glowing eyes in the darkness.
Chapter 9
Escape from the Caves
Garin, Thrala, and Dandtan escape from the caves, fighting a morgel and navigating the Morgel Pit. Kepta taunts them but allows their temporary freedom. They flee through the forest, cross a river, and are aided by the Ana. Thrala summons a Gibi messenger, and they reach the Gibi city, learning that the morgels are ravaging the forest and that the Gibi will depart during the Mists.
Chapter 10
Days of Preparation
As the Great Mists descend upon Tav, Garin, Dandtan, and Thrala race to the safety of the Caverns, which are sealed for forty days. During this time, Garin and Dandtan work tirelessly in the laboratories to prepare defenses against the coming attack of the Black Ones. Garin has a tense encounter with Thrala, who dismisses him coldly, leaving him confused and hurt. The chapter ends with the Mists lifting and the Cavern dwellers readying for battle.
Chapter 11
X: Battle and Victory
Garin and Dandtan confront Kepta, who demands Thrala and the outlander. After a violent exchange, the Folk use green gas globes to defeat the Black Ones' forces. Garin rescues Thrala from Kepta, kills him in combat, and learns of their past lives. Kepta vanishes with his throne, and an earthquake seals the Caves of Darkness, ending the Black Ones' threat.
Chapter 12
XI: Thrala's Mate
After the battle, Garin feels like an outlander in Tav. Dandtan, believing Garin has refused to claim Thrala as his mate, accuses him of rebelling against the summoning and demands a death sentence. During the trial, Garin confesses his love for Thrala but insists he will not force her into an unwelcome bargain. Dandtan reveals that he is Thran's son and Thrala's brother, clearing the misunderstanding. Garin and Thrala are reunited, and Garin begins his new life in Tav.
Chapter 13
The Gifts of Asti
Varta, the last Maiden of Asti, takes the miniature sun and planets from the temple and escapes through a secret passage with her companion Lur. She dons a protective scaled suit and navigates the dangerous underworld, encountering the Guardian of the Chasms, who allows her passage after she proves her identity. She chooses the path believed to lead to the upper world, and after a difficult journey, they emerge into a fertile land free of men.
Chapter 14
All Cats Are Gray
Steena, a colorblind spacer with a photographic memory, and her gray tomcat Bat join Cliff Moran on a risky mission to salvage the derelict pleasure-ship Empress of Mars. Onboard, Steena's unique perception of gray allows her to detect an invisible alien creature that had been killing intruders for fifty years. She kills it, and the trio successfully brings the ship to Lunar quarantine. The story ends with Steena and Cliff happily married, a small family out on the town with Bat.
