Chapter 8 Summary: Inside the Colourium

⚠️ 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

Eddie waits in the waiting room of his father's Colourium, a medical facility where healing and skill hues are administered. The room is filled with villagers, including Tania, Violet deMauve's sister-in-law, and a dozen higher-hued children waiting to receive musical proficiency skills. Eddie's friend Fenton had acquired trombone skills this way, but the skill faded when his parents stopped paying for refreshers. Eddie himself learned the cello the old-fashioned way, through practice.

Eddie talks with Lucy Ochre, his father's admin assistant. They discuss the upcoming Jollity Fair, where Lucy has been selected for the Red Sector hockeyball team after losing an ear in a match—the selection board views the injury as a sign of effort. Eddie mentions that Daisy Crimson and Violet deMauve also made the team, and that Doug, Oscar, and Earl are competing in Penny-Farthing events. Lucy asks about Eddie's impending marriage to Violet, and Eddie explains that he's been summoned to meet deMauve, but the marriage is only to legitimise the child Violet is carrying. He also reveals that the Overseeing Yellow Prefect has arrived and seems aligned with Sally Gamboge, who wants to send Eddie and Jane to the Green Room. Tommo has pulled strings, and Violet has been granted victim status. Eddie notes that with his 86.7% red sight gift, he should have become Red Prefect, but his service was deferred due to a murder accusation. Lucy suggests that Yewberry could retire, but Eddie doubts that will happen.

Two Greys, Sid and Bobby, enter with a chit for a skills upgrade for deMauve's home improvements—newel posts and linenfold panelling. Lucy approves the chit, and the men wait. Eddie then tells Lucy about the Fallen Woman incident at the Fallen Man, and his theory that a