The Survivors · Chapter
Chapter II explained
Bill Humbolt leads a prospecting expedition across the Craigs mountain, enduring extreme altitude and thirst.
What happens
Bill Humbolt leads a prospecting expedition across the Craigs mountain, enduring extreme altitude and thirst. His companion Dan Barber dies of exhaustion and dehydration just short of the summit. Humbolt reaches the spring, rests, and continues south, using an automatic crossbow to fend off unicorns. He returns to the caves and reports the red stratum was only iron stains. George Ord has built a pilot smelter. Humbolt vows to keep searching for metal ore. The narrative then shifts to a classroom decades later, where Teacher Morgan West reads from Walter Humbolt's diary and teaches children about the Gerns and the need to prepare for their return. Howard Lake, as a child, sees a meteor that briefly seems like a Gern cruiser. Ten years later, Howard Lake is leader, with 350 people. Over the years, they adapt mockers for communication and continue developing technology, reaching 819 people by year 150, ready and impatient for the Gerns.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Adaptation
Humbolt's harrowing trek across the Craigs and the colony's gradual adaptation of mockers and corn to higher elevations exemplify the constant struggle to survive on Ragnarok.
Hope and Determination
Despite Barber's death and the failure to find iron ore, Humbolt vows to keep searching. The later generation's preparation for the Gerns reflects enduring hope and resolve.
Resourcefulness and Innovation
The development of the automatic crossbow, the pilot smelter, and the training of mockers for undetectable communication demonstrate the colonists' ingenuity.
Characters to notice
- Billy Humbolt
Leads the prospecting expedition across the Craigs, loses Dan Barber to altitude sickness, returns to the caves determined to find metal ore.
- Ben Barber
Dies of exhaustion and thirst on the mountain, half a mile from the summit.
- George Ord
Working late in his workshop-laboratory when Humbolt returns; has built a pilot smelter.
- Howard Lake
As a child, learns about the Gerns and sees a meteor; ten years later becomes leader of the colony.
- Teacher West
Teaches the children history and the need to prepare for the Gerns, reads from Walter Humbolt's diary.
- Clifton Humbolt
Eight-year-old child in the classroom, answers Teacher West's question about why they must learn about the Gerns.
Key passages
“It would be hell—to have to die—so thirsty like this.”
Dan Barber's last words express the agony of dying of thirst.
Barber's death haunts Humbolt even after he reaches the spring.
“We'll try again next spring. We'll find it somewhere, no matter how long it takes.”
Humbolt refuses to give up the search for metal ore.
Demonstrates Humbolt's determination to build a ship to confront the Gerns.
“Only a meteor.”
Teacher West explains that the bright trail of fire was a meteor, not a Gern cruiser.
Highlights the children's eagerness and the false alarm.