Triplanetary · Chapter
Worm, Submarine, and Freedom explained
Costigan, Bradley, and Clio repair their stolen Nevian lifeboat and attempt to escape Nevia.
What happens
Costigan, Bradley, and Clio repair their stolen Nevian lifeboat and attempt to escape Nevia. They are attacked by a giant worm-like creature, which Costigan kills by boiling it alive. The commotion attracts a submarine cruiser of hostile fish-like beings, which engages them in battle. Nerado's spaceship intervenes, allowing the lifeboat to escape into space. The trio prepares for pursuit by modifying their suits with Nevian technology.
Themes in this chapter
Alien Otherness and Incomprehensibility
The giant worm and the fish-like beings represent alien life forms with incomprehensible biology and technology, challenging the humans' understanding and survival.
Heroism and Personal Sacrifice
Costigan's calm leadership and willingness to risk himself to protect Clio and Bradley exemplify heroism under extreme pressure.
Characters to notice
- Conway Costigan
Leads the escape, repairs the lifeboat, fights the worm and the submarine, and plans modifications to their suits.
- Captain Bradley
Assists in repairs and observes the battles, standing watch with Costigan and Clio.
- Clio Marsden
Shows fear during the worm attack but helps with suit modifications, demonstrating undaunted spirit.
- Captain Nerado
Intervenes to rescue the lifeboat by attacking the submarine, allowing the escape.
Key passages
“Since both Costigan and Bradley had often watched their captors at work during the long voyage from the Solar System to Nevia, they were quite familiar with the machine tools of the amphibians.”
Having observed their Nevian captors operating tools during the journey from Earth, Costigan and Bradley gained enough knowledge to repair their stolen lifeboat.
Establishes the protagonists' resourcefulness and prior exposure to Nevian technology.
“The only thing left to do that I can think of is to try to boil him alive.”
Costigan decides to use a heat beam to boil the giant worm attacking their lifeboat, as other weapons are ineffective.
Highlights Costigan's quick thinking and the extreme measures required to survive alien threats.
“I hope that those fish blow him clear out of the Galaxy!”
Costigan expresses hope that the fish-like beings will destroy Nerado, giving them a better chance to escape.
Reveals Costigan's strategic thinking and his prioritization of escape over gratitude toward Nerado.