Chapter 31 Summary and Study Guide

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

On Day 3 aboard the Many Flags station, Gwendy sits at her desk in her suite, sorting through a pile of appropriation requests. The mundane paperwork makes her reflect that the life of a senator is far from glamorous. While she works, she is also listening for a chime from her laptop, hoping for a message from Charlotte. Several messages arrive, including one from the vice president, but none from Charlotte. She resists the urge to open the safe and use the button box, which calls to her even through the steel CLASSIFIED box and the safe. She craves the clarity and focus that a chocolate animal would bring, and she recognizes this as a practical lesson in why addicts become addicts.

A knock at the door interrupts her. She hopes it isn't Winston, and is relieved to find Reggie Black, the physicist. He invites her to see something wild that Adesh Patel has just shown him. Gwendy agrees, and they go to Adesh's lab in Spoke 5, which is marked with a sign identifying Adesh as the “Bug Man” and instructing visitors to knock before entering. Inside, Gwendy sees a row of plexiglass cases containing insects and spiders, including Olivia the tarantula, which she finds unpleasant. The far end of the room is sealed off with floor-to-ceiling plexiglass, creating a larger cage with smaller cages inside.

Adesh demonstrates the zero-g behavior of ordinary houseflies. They fly out of a small cage and then stop flying, hanging in the air as if on strings. Adesh explains they are in a state of energy conservation, having learned they don't need to use their wings. Then Reggie chants for Boris, the emperor scorpion. Adesh presses a button, and Boris crawls out, claws clicking, stinger arched. Boris floats upward and hangs in midair. Adesh calls out a command, and Boris flexes his tail, propelling himself across the room like a bullet. He catches one of the flies, mashes it, and eats it. Then he does a forward roll and uses his tail to push himself back to his starting spot, hanging there. Gwendy is repulsed and fascinated in equal measure. She asks how Adesh gets Boris back into his cage, and Adesh says he puts him in manually with a glove, noting that Boris is trainable but far from tame. Gwendy asks what the command means, and Adesh, with a gentle smile, says it means “kill.”

Key Events

Gwendy works on appropriation requests while resisting the button box's call.
She hopes for a message from Charlotte but receives none.
Reggie Black invites her to see Adesh's demonstration.
In the lab, Adesh shows houseflies floating in zero-g.
Boris the scorpion kills a fly on command and returns to his starting point.
Adesh explains the training and adaptation behind Boris's behavior.
Gwendy learns the meaning of the command and is both repulsed and fascinated.

Character Development

This chapter deepens Gwendy's internal struggle with the button box. She is aware of its pull and recognizes the addictive nature of the chocolates, comparing it to drug addiction. She uses a memory trick from Dr. Ambrose to recall Reggie's last name, showing her cognitive strategies. Her reaction to the scorpion—repulsion and fascination—reveals her curiosity and resilience. She also shows a pragmatic side, asking how Boris is returned to his cage, and she translates Reggie's slang for Adesh, demonstrating her social ease.

Reggie Black is portrayed as enthusiastic and playful, chanting for Boris and calling him “money.” Adesh Patel is proud of his work, correcting Reggie that it's not a trick but training and adaptation. He is also cautious, wearing a glove to handle Boris and emphasizing that the scorpion is not tame. The interaction between the three characters highlights different approaches to science and wonder.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Temptation and Addiction: The button box's call is a central motif. Gwendy's desire for the chocolates and the clarity they bring mirrors addiction, and she explicitly reflects on why addicts are addicts.
Adaptation and Training: Adesh's demonstration shows how creatures adapt to zero-g, and how Boris has been trained to respond to commands. This theme connects to Gwendy's own adaptation to her mission and her use of memory techniques.
Predation: Boris's killing of the fly is a stark display of predation, which may parallel the dangers Gwendy faces or the predatory nature of politics.
The Unglamorous Reality of Politics: Gwendy's paperwork and her reflection on the senator's life contrast with the excitement of the lab, highlighting the mundane side of her role.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter reinforces Gwendy's ongoing battle with the button box, showing that even on a good day, the temptation is strong. It also introduces a memorable scene that underscores themes of control, training, and the instinct to kill. The scorpion's obedience to a command to kill may foreshadow Gwendy's own need to make difficult choices. Additionally, the chapter develops Gwendy's relationships with the other characters, particularly Reggie and Adesh, and shows her using her cognitive tools to manage her memory. The absence of a message from Charlotte adds to the tension and anticipation.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Gwendy resist using the button box, and what does she compare her craving to?

Gwendy resists because she knows the chocolates are a temptation that could compromise her mission. She compares her craving to drug addiction, noting that she misses the clarity from the mental acuity test and would like a chocolate animal to help her get through the paperwork.

What does Adesh's demonstration with Boris reveal about the scorpion's behavior?

The demonstration shows that Boris has been trained to respond to a command and to use his tail to propel himself in zero-g. Adesh emphasizes that this is training and adaptation, not a trick, and that Boris is still not tame, as he handles him with a glove.

How does Gwendy react to the scorpion's kill, and what does this reveal about her character?

Gwendy is repulsed and fascinated in equal measure. This dual reaction shows her scientific curiosity and her human discomfort with violence. It also suggests she is capable of confronting unpleasant realities, which may be necessary for her upcoming task.