Dawn

At first, Joseph will not speak to Lilith or accept food from her. Lilith senses no hostility from him, however, and thinks that he must be trying to understand what had happened between them. She explains, “It was a neurosensory illusion. Nikanj stimulates nerves directly, and we remember or create experiences to suit the sensations. On a physical level, Nikanj feels what we feel” (168).

After a long time, Joseph comments that it will soon be morning. Lilith asks him to talk to her, and he asks, “It wasn’t real? Not any of it?” (169). Lilith says that Nikanj connected to their nervous systems. She experienced this before with Nikanj alone or with its mates. Joseph wants to know why Lilith lets the Oankali touch her, and she admits that in addition to the special healing and other abilities she’s been given, she likes it. She asks if Joseph liked the experience, but he says he will never again allow “that thing” to touch him.

Lilith says that she plans to Awaken 10 more people and asks Joseph to help. He agrees, then asks Lilith if what they experienced is like a drug, and can cause addiction. Lilith replies that she does not think so and that she was happy with Joseph as they were, without Nikanj. Joseph does not want “him” to touch Lilith, calling Nikanj by a male pronoun. This bothers Lilith, as it reminds her of how Paul Titus did the same thing. She corrects him, saying that Nikanj is not male. Joseph asks what difference that makes. Lilith replies that any self-deception is wrong: “We need to know them for what they are, even if there are no human parallels” (170).

The initial group is kept busy helping the ten new members. A man named Wray Ordway tries to sexually assault Leah as soon as he is Awakened and is restrained until he can calm down.

Peter, a few of his followers, and Curt hold Lilith until a new member, Derrick Wolski, can climb into one of the food cabinets before it closes. When Derrick disappears, Lilith asks the men what Derrick plans to do. Curt replies that Derrick will find out what is going on and will look for the people refilling the food cabinets: “We want to get a look at them before they’re ready to be seen, before they’re ready to convince us they’re Martians” (171). Lilith repeats that they are aliens though she does not know from what solar system. Cursing, Curt walks away.

Joseph strides over to Lilith, concerned about what happened with Derrick. Lilith does not think the Oankali will return Derrick to the room but hopes they bring him back themselves, to prevent anyone from pulling a similar stunt.

When Derrick does not return, Lilith opens the wall to show everyone that Derrick has not asphyxiated in the cabinets. Jean demands to know what happened to Derrick. Lilith says she does not know; Jean calls her a liar. Lilith tells Jean that Jean is partly to blame for whatever happened to Derrick since she had been part of the group that helped hold Lilith back.

Lilith retreats to her room, followed by Joseph and Tate. Gabriel joins them and tells Lilith that she is losing the battle, and needs to bring in the Oankali to impress the group, to prove that they are aliens. Gabriel says that Joseph told him that Lilith can talk to the Oankali, which upsets Lilith. Joseph says that Lilith needs more allies since her enemies are gathering allies.

Gabriel says that the troublemakers in the group are frightened and looking for someone to save them. Peter thinks he is that person, so people are following him. Gabriel is afraid that Peter and his followers will torture Lilith into revealing a way out of the room. Joseph says that they need to quickly bring in potential allies, including ones that may still be undecided but were seen talking to Peter’s group. Gabriel urges Lilith again to ask the Oankali for help.

Lilith seals herself in her room, but the Oankali will not respond to her appeals. The situation in the group deteriorates, as Peter portrays Derrick as a martyr and Lilith as the villain. Peter’s group demands action, while those who side with Lilith wait for more information or a real chance to escape. Others, like Beatrice, are afraid of any kind of action and just want to be left alone. Lilith tries to recruit them as well. Lilith Awakens ten more people, using only her recruits to help them. Peter and his group sneer at their actions, making them look like troublemakers to the newcomers.

Peter attempts to assert his control by helping one of the new men, Gregory Sebastes, sexually assault a woman named Allison Ziegler, who is part of Lilith’s group. Lilith, in her room reading dossiers, hears Allison screaming her name. Lilith emerges to find Gregory and Peter trying to drag Allison into Gregory’s room. Peter’s people are blocking Lilith’s people from intervening.

Jean and Curt angrily shout that it’s Allison’s duty to pair off with a man. People shout back and forth at each other. Allison strikes Gregory and he hits her back. Lilith tries to call out to everyone to stop, but her voice is drowned out. Finally, she shouts in a voice so loud it quiets the group.

Everyone freezes and Lilith rushes over to Allison. Two of Peter’s people grab her arms, but she effortlessly throws them off. Lilith grabs Peter’s arm as he swings at her, twisting it until he screams and falls to his knees. Lilith punches Curt in the stomach, while Gregory lunges at her. Lilith hits him in midair, causing his head to snap back, and he collapses.

Even Lilith’s own people stand back from her now: “‘There’ll be no rape here,’ [Lilith] said evenly. ‘Nobody here is property. Nobody here has the right to the use of anybody else’s body. There’ll be no back-to-the-Stone-Age, caveman bullshit!” (178).

Lilith walks back to her room before anyone can see her trembling that she came so close to losing control and killing someone. Joseph follows her and tells her that medical assistance is needed for the men who have been injured. Lilith is alarmed and asks in Oankali for someone to come and help them. A disembodied voice tells her in Oankali that no one is injured too badly. The voice, which Lilith recognizes as Ahajas, asks if they should keep Peter, but Lilith replies that as much as she would like the Oankali to take Peter away, they should leave him in the room.

Some of the others have come up to Lilith and hear the exchange. Gabriel thought the Oankali would not talk to Lilith. She replies that the Oankali had recognized that this was an emergency. Gabriel asks if Lilith knows the Oankali who spoke and considers her a friend. Lilith replies, “As much as it’s possible to be friends with someone of a totally different species” (179). Lilith does consider Ahajas to be a friend and wonders what her Oankali family thinks of her.

Tate wants to know why Lilith is so strong, so Lilith explains that the Oankali altered her. Allison tells Lilith that she’s grateful for her intervention and wonders if Lilith is really human. Lilith wearily wonders how many times she is going to have to answer that. Before going back to her room, Lilith tells her group that she is Awakening the last ten people in the morning.