Chapter 37 (Leah): Summary, Analysis, and Key Themes

⚠️ 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

When power suddenly returns to the craft, Leah and Matteo are on the main deck. The overhead lights and exterior beams flicker back on, revealing the darkness they've been navigating. Matteo freezes, convinced that any movement might trigger another blackout. He urges Leah to surface while they still can, but she refuses, insisting she needs to see what they came down to find.

Leah moves toward the control panel despite Matteo's attempts to stop her. She reminds him of his earlier story about ice fishing with his father, when he knew something was wrong but chose to stay because he didn't want to ruin the moment. Matteo grabs her arm, but she asks if he intends to slap her, and he releases her, stunned by her cruelty.

Leah takes the controls and pilots the craft across the ocean floor. She passes over basalt formations and a deep crevasse, but encounters no living things. She registers the smell of burning flesh—though she later wonders if she superimposed that memory. As she moves forward, she thinks, Come on, give, and finally, movement appears in the darkness ahead.

Key Events

• Power returns to the craft, illuminating the main deck and exterior.

• Matteo freezes, warns Leah not to move, and suggests they surface immediately.

• Leah refuses, insisting she must see what they came to find.

• She references Matteo's ice-fishing story, using it to justify her decision.

• Matteo physically tries to stop her, but she asks if he's going to slap him, and he releases her.

• Leah takes control of the craft and pilots it across the ocean floor.

• She observes only basalt and a crevasse—no signs of life.

• She smells burning flesh (possibly a later memory).

• Movement appears in the darkness ahead, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Development

Leah is defined by her unwavering determination. She rejects the chance to surface, prioritizing the mission's purpose over safety. Her promise to Matteo—that they will leave before the power goes—reveals her conviction, but also her desperation to find meaning in their ordeal. Her sharp question about slapping Matteo shows a darker, more unkind side, born from exhaustion and fear. She also thinks of Miri with a sharp pain, indicating her longing for home and connection.

Matteo is paralyzed by fear and the unknown. He sees the power restoration as a potential trap, wondering if