Chapter 40 — The Rainbow Brotherhood: Summary, Themes, and Analysis

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens with the narrator (Ed) travelling by steam train to Vermillion for the Red Sector CDXCVI Jollity Fair. The journey includes brief stops at West Cardinal and East Cardinal, where a nervous Deputy Red Prefect joins the carriage. Upon arrival, the party is met by organisers wearing red sashes, who direct competitors to their accommodations. Violet hands Ed an “All Sites Vermillion Tourist Ticket” and, with a faux-affectionate hug, tells him to do his duty diligently and professionally. Jane notices something is wrong, but Ed defers the explanation.

Tommo then approaches Ed and reveals that he has arranged for Ed to earn money through the Rainbow trade—selling his services for siring children. Ed is furious, accusing Tommo of selling his “plums” without consent. Tommo argues that the Purples want to balance the Red/Blue line and Reds want to be Redder, and that Ed could earn nearly a thousand merits per siring. Ed refuses, insisting that Tommo find another way to raise five thousand cash merits without compromising his fidelity to Jane. Tommo reluctantly agrees to think about it, though Ed doubts he will.

Ed then visits the Last Rabbit Experience, a tourist attraction dedicated to the now-deceased Last Rabbit. During the tour, Ed asks whether there might be a “Somewhere Else” across the seas where other rabbits exist. The guide and other visitors react with shock and reproach, and Ed is ejected from the attraction. He walks through the Colour Garden, reflecting on how the promise of full colourisation is an aspirational system of control.

Ed checks into the Green Dragon hotel. The manager, who wears a Blue Spot badge indicating he can “fix” things, warns Ed about the expected “Rainbow traffic” during the Jollity Fair and insists that all transactions be conducted off the property. He directs Ed to the Hoople Room, where other Rainbowers are already gathered.

Inside the Hoople Room, Ed meets the Rainbow Brotherhood—a group of men who provide siring services under assumed colour names. Mr Blue, the de facto leader, welcomes Ed and assigns him the name “Mr Hollyberry.” The men discuss the trade: the risks, the volatility of prices, the importance of professionalism, and the coercion that often forces men into the work. Ed learns that most of them are Rainbow children themselves, suggesting a cycle. A Grey member explains his unusual role: he is pure Grey and is used to negate colour vision in children when Grey women marry up hue but want to keep their offspring Grey. He works for free, and the Brotherhood chips in to cover his expenses.

Ed spends two hours with the group, finding them supportive yet aware of their buried resentment. He reflects that few of them are there by choice; most are driven by fiscal necessity or coercion. The chapter ends with Ed acknowledging the cycle and the Brotherhood’s code of mutual support.

Key Events

Ed travels to Vermillion for the Jollity Fair, stopping at West and East Cardinal.
Violet gives Ed a tourist ticket and instructs him to fulfil his duty.
Tommo reveals his plan for Ed to earn money through the Rainbow trade; Ed refuses and demands an alternative.
Ed visits the Last Rabbit Experience and is ejected for asking about “Somewhere Else.”
Ed checks into the Green Dragon and is directed to the Hoople Room.
Ed meets the Rainbow Brotherhood and becomes “Mr Hollyberry.”
The Brotherhood explains the trade’s risks, coercion, and the cycle of Rainbow children.
A Grey member explains his role in keeping children Grey.

Character Development

Ed: Ed’s moral compass is tested. He is repulsed by the idea of selling his reproductive services, yet he is under pressure from Violet and Tommo. His refusal to compromise his fidelity to Jane shows his integrity, but his eventual presence in the Hoople Room suggests he is reluctantly considering the option. His question about “Somewhere Else” reinforces his curiosity and willingness to challenge the status quo.
Tommo: Tommo is opportunistic and self-serving, viewing Ed’s situation as a business opportunity. He dismisses Ed’s objections and tries to rationalise the scheme, revealing his lack of empathy.
Violet: Though not present for most of the chapter, Violet’s earlier instruction to Ed to “do his duty” hangs over the narrative, showing her willingness to use coercion for political ends.
The Rainbow Brotherhood: The men are portrayed as a mix of camaraderie and resentment. They support each other but are aware of their exploitation. Mr Blue acts as a protective leader, while Mr Red and Mr Crimson show underlying rivalry. The Grey member’s presence highlights the inverted nature of the trade.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Hypocrisy of Rules: The Rainbow Room is “permitted and not permitted” at the same time, illustrating the nation’s double standards. The very people who enforce the Rules often use the trade for social advancement.
Commodification of Reproduction: The trade reduces human fertility to a marketable commodity, with prices fluctuating based on colour purity. Ed’s body becomes a product to be sold.
Coercion and Consent: Most Brotherhood members are there out of necessity or coercion, not choice. Ed’s refusal highlights the importance of consent, which is one of the few things they can withhold.
Color Hierarchy: The trade reinforces the colour hierarchy, with Reds seeking to be Redder and Purples balancing lines. The Grey member’s role shows that even Greyness can be commodified.
Cycle of Rainbow Children: Many Brotherhood members are themselves Rainbow children, suggesting a self-perpetuating system.
Secrecy and Safe Space: The Hoople Room is a “safe space” where agents are excluded, and the Brotherhood maintains anonymity through colour names.
Somewhere Else: Ed’s question about other lands represents a challenge to the closed worldview enforced by the state.
Puddle Water Culture: The elaborate puddle water drinks symbolise the nation’s attempt to create a distinct culture while masking deeper control.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the world-building of Red Side Story by introducing the Rainbow Brotherhood, a clandestine institution that reveals the economic and social pressures underpinning Chromatacia’s colour hierarchy. It exposes the hypocrisy of the Rules and the commodification of human reproduction, while also developing Ed’s character as he grapples with an ethical dilemma. The chapter sets up a major conflict: Ed must decide whether to compromise his fidelity to Jane to raise the money needed for the wager. It also introduces the concept of “Somewhere Else,” which may become significant later in the narrative.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Ed refuse Tommo’s plan to earn money through the Rainbow trade?

Ed refuses because he finds the idea objectionable and does not want to compromise his fidelity to Jane. He insists that Tommo find another way to raise the five thousand merits, showing that his moral principles take precedence over financial gain.

What does the Grey member’s role reveal about the colour hierarchy?

The Grey member’s role reveals that even Greyness can be commodified. He is used to negate colour vision in children when Grey women marry up hue but want to keep their offspring Grey. This shows that the system values colour purity in both directions, and that Greyness is not simply a lack of colour but a marketable trait.

How does the Rainbow Brotherhood function as a “safe space” despite being illegal?

The Brotherhood operates in the Hoople Room, which is a private area where agents are not allowed. Members use colour names to maintain anonymity and support each other between assignments. The manager of the Green Dragon facilitates this by reserving the room and insisting on discretion, illustrating how the trade is tolerated despite being against the Rules.

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