VIII explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Science vs. Superstition

  Tau uses rational counter-magic and psychological tactics to defeat Lumbrilo's supernatural attacks, highlighting the clash between scientific and superstitious worldviews.

• Power and Corruption

  Lumbrilo's misuse of his magical power to hunt and terrorize others is confronted and overturned by Tau, who turns the hunter into the hunted.

• Survival and Resilience

  Tau withstands Lumbrilo's psychic assaults, including fire and painful memories, and ultimately prevails through endurance and mental strength.

Characters to notice

• Medic Tau

  Engages in a psychic duel with Lumbrilo, transforming into a gorilla and summoning shadow lions; collapses from exhaustion afterward.

• Dane Thorson

  Beats the drum to disrupt Lumbrilo's chanting, fires a blaster to protect Tau, and catches Tau when he collapses.

• Lumbrilo of Khatka

  Witch doctor who attacks Tau with fire, memories, and transformations; ultimately broken and flees when Tau turns his magic against him.

• Captain Jellico

  Oversees the aftermath, examines Tau, and declines Asaki's invitation to visit Zoboru preserve.

• Chief Ranger Asaki

  Conducts an inquiry with Jellico, rounds up prisoners, and invites the crew to visit the Zoboru preserve.

• Nymani

  Rounds up the native hunters and assists in securing prisoners.

Key passages

• “Raising both hands again the medic brought them down, curling inward, until he stooped and touched them to the ground. When he straightened once again the knife was in his grasp and he tossed it behind him.”

  Tau raised his hands, bent down, touched the ground, and then straightened up holding a knife, which he threw away.

  Tau discards a weapon, signaling his intention to face Lumbrilo without physical arms.

• “A black and white beast stood where the man had been, its tufted tail lashing, its muzzle a mask of snarling hate and blood lust.”

  Lumbrilo transformed into a black-and-white lion-like creature, showing aggression and bloodlust.

  Lumbrilo uses shape-shifting magic to intimidate Tau.

• “But Tau met that transformation with laughter which was like the lash of a whip.”

  Tau laughed sharply at Lumbrilo's transformation, dismissing it as a trick.

  Tau's laughter shows his confidence and disdain for Lumbrilo's magic.

• “The huge, hairy thing which swayed in his place turned a gorilla’s beast visage to his enemy.”

  Tau transformed into a gorilla-like creature to face Lumbrilo's lion form.

  Tau mirrors Lumbrilo's transformation, demonstrating his own psychic power.

• “Lumbrilo was chanting—a heavy blast of words. Dane stiffened; his traitorous hands were falling into the rhythm of that other song!”

  Lumbrilo chanted, and Dane's hands began to follow the rhythm against his will.

  Lumbrilo's chant has a hypnotic effect, threatening to control Dane.

• “The pillar of fire swayed, fluttered as if a wind drove it—and was gone. Tau, unmarked, smiled.”

  The fire pillar around Tau dissipated, leaving him unharmed and smiling.

  Tau withstands Lumbrilo's fire attack without injury.