Embassytown: A Novel

An Arrival Ball fills Embassytown's Diplomacy Hall with celebration as the local community honors both the arrival and impending departure of a visiting spacecraft. Children of the embassy have decorated the walls with paintings of the landing ship, continuing a centuries-old tradition of depicting spacecraft with fiery trails, despite such technology being long obsolete. The narrator, who is older than most of the visitors, guides a young pilot through his first experience at the edge of known space.

Embassy staff, security personnel, teachers, physicians, local artists, and delegates from outlying communities attend this grand affair. Music flows from a string septet while both young and old participate in dancing. Historical artwork and photographs documenting the city's past adorn the hall, including images of staff, Ambassadors, and the mysterious 'Hosts.' The recent spacecraft landing has caused some disturbance among the city's power stations, which are described as 'skittish' and 'stamping.'

As the evening progresses, the narrator bids farewell to a friend named Kayliegh, who is leaving Embassytown. Their conversation reveals that the narrator had also planned to leave but changed their mind six months ago upon receiving news of an important arrival. The chapter builds anticipation for the appearance of both the Hosts and a new, controversial Ambassador, who is described as 'impossible.' The narrator, despite having connections within the community, has been unable to learn any details about the closed-door meetings involving this mysterious new arrival.

Childhood memories of Embassytown flood back as Avice recalls playing coin games with her friends near a particular house and exploring their carefully mapped town, including ventures to the interstice - the border between human and Host territories. The children would dare each other to go as far as possible into Host territory, with Avice being the third-best 'southgoer' in her group, behind Simmon and Yohn.

On the day after her birthday, Avice encounters Bren, the mysterious resident of the house where they played their coin games. He brings her inside to comfort her friend Yohn, who has been found unconscious after venturing too far into Host territory. Inside Bren's remarkable house, filled with exotic decorations and technology, Avice encounters a Host up close for the first time. The Host had helped save Yohn's life by having its 'engines breathe oxygen into him.' During this encounter, Bren reveals his unusual status as someone who is 'cleaved,' though the full meaning of this condition remains unclear.

The chapter concludes with insights into Embassytown's social structure, particularly its system of 'shiftparents' who raise children communally in nurseries. Through conversations with her favorite shiftparent, Dad Shemmi, Avice learns about the community's disapproval of Bren living in town rather than in a retreat for the 'cleaved.' The incident affects the children's future explorations, with Yohn never able to venture as far again, though his record mark remains as testament to his near-fatal adventure.

Avice's transformation begins at age seven (170 kilohours) when she left Embassytown, returning four years later as a fundamentally changed person. During her time away, she became proficient in several skills, including fighting, marriage (having had three previous spouses before Scile), and most notably 'floaking' - a combination of skill, luck, laziness, and chutzpah particularly valued among immersers.

A significant childhood memory involves a tragic incident with a miab (message in a bottle) delivery. Despite safety protocols, Staff brought in a miab while it was still 'wet' from immer-travel, resulting in the emergence of a 'stichling' - a dangerous entity that materialized from the surrounding matter, causing numerous deaths and structural damage. This incident led to stricter protocols and political fallout, though the traditional arrival ceremonies continued despite predictions they would end.

The chapter's most pivotal revelation concerns how Avice became a living simile in the Hosts' Language. At a young age, she was recruited by Bren and her shiftparents for a special task. The Hosts needed her to perform specific actions that would allow them to create a new simile. Though somewhat traumatic, the experience was bearable, and afterward, she met with Ambassadors who explained her new status as part of Language - she became 'the girl who in pain ate what was given her.' This distinction, along with Bren's subtle patronage, later helped her secure permission to leave Embassytown and travel into the 'out.'

Avice's path to becoming an immerser began with school assessments in Embassytown, where specialized testing revealed her unexpected aptitude for immersing. Her teachers' encouragement and her growing desire to leave home eventually secured her passage off-world, joining the crew of the Wasp of Kolkata. Though she later learned her success wasn't inevitable, her natural talents and determination proved decisive.

Avice provides extensive details about the immer, the mysterious space through which ships travel between worlds. She describes her first immersion experience near the wreck of the Pionier (which she had known as 'Wreck'), explaining how the ancient vessel had been destroyed attempting to follow what turned out to be warning beacons rather than invitations. The chapter reveals the complex nature of immer-travel, including the existence of lighthouses left by ancient entities and the special abilities required of immersers to navigate this strange dimension.

The narrative then shifts to Avice's meeting with Scile at a linguistics conference in Pellucias. Their encounter, sparked by her boasting about knowing 'weird languages' due to her Embassytown origins, leads to a relationship that progresses from a casual affair to marriage. Despite Scile's academic interest in Language and his unfinished thesis, he chooses to abandon his current research to pursue new projects. The chapter concludes with their marriage in Charo City and the complex process of obtaining permission to return to Embassytown together, marking a significant turn in Avice's life as she prepares to return to the place she once eagerly left.

Back at the Arrival Ball, the atmosphere crackles with unprecedented anticipation for the new Ambassador's appearance. Avice, adorned with jewels and augmens, encounters her friend Ehrsul, an advanced autom with peacock feather decorations. Their conversation reveals that even Ehrsul, who typically has insider knowledge due to her connections with Staff, has been kept away from the new Ambassador, suggesting unusual levels of secrecy and political maneuvering.

The political dynamics in Embassytown are shifting, with Bremen representative Wyatt taking an unusually assertive role in the proceedings. This marks a departure from the typical relationship between Bremen officials and local Staff, who usually maintain significant autonomy. The situation has created tension among the existing Ambassadors, with EdGar expressing genuine worry about the unprecedented circumstances, while others like RanDolph view the changes more optimistically.

The chapter culminates in the dramatic entrance of the new Ambassador, who proves to be utterly different from expectations. Unlike the usual matching pairs that make up Ambassadors, these two men are completely dissimilar - one tall and thin with receding hair, the other short and muscular. They have different features, skin colors, and even different ways of carrying themselves, making their existence as an Ambassador pair seem impossible by established standards. This revelation explains the anxiety and political maneuvering that has been building throughout the chapter.

Scile's academic arrangements for their return to Embassytown reveal his ambitious research plans. He has secured an extended sabbatical to study the Hosts' language, technically funded by his university with plans to publish 'Forked Tongues: The SocioPsychoLinguistics of the Ariekei.' Unlike previous researchers who focused on the Hosts' biological aspects, Scile's linguistic focus is unusual, as no outsider linguists have studied Language since the initial pioneers three and a half megahours ago.

The chapter reveals the complex history of human-Host communication, particularly the breakthrough discovery that the Hosts' Language requires two simultaneous voices - the Cut and the Turn. Early Accelerated Contact Linguistics (ACL) experts could understand the Hosts but found that the Hosts couldn't comprehend synthesized speech or single human voices. The pivotal moment came when two researchers, Urich and Becker, accidentally spoke different parts of a word simultaneously, leading to the first instance of Hosts recognizing human speech as meaningful.

The unique nature of Host Language is extensively detailed - unlike human languages where meaning resides in the combination of sounds, Host Language requires a unified mind behind the doubled speech. This led to the development of the Stadt Dyadic Empathy Test and eventually to the creation of clone Ambassadors, as normal human pairs couldn't achieve the necessary mental unity. The chapter explains how the colony initially used identical twins as interpreters before transitioning to carefully bred and raised clone pairs, providing crucial context for the current Ambassador system in Embassytown.

EzRa makes their dramatic entrance at the Arrival Ball, immediately revealing their unprecedented nature. Unlike traditional Ambassador pairs who remain physically close, Ez and Ra separate and mingle independently with different groups. Their distinct appearances and separate interactions mark a stark departure from the usual clone-pair Ambassadors, causing both fascination and unease among the attendees.

During individual interactions, Ra reveals to Avice that their appointment is temporary - they plan to return to Bremen after 70-80 kilohours, a shocking revelation that contradicts everything known about Ambassadors. Ra explains that he and Ez were longtime friends who discovered their compatibility through a random Stadt method test exhibition. Meanwhile, Ez displays a more outgoing personality and carries augmented technology, including translation software, which Avice finds inappropriately presumptuous for an Ambassador.

The political implications of EzRa's presence become clearer as JoaQuin attempts to present them as a positive change for Embassytown, referring to them as a 'new broom.' The chapter takes an additional turn when Ehrsul alerts Avice to Scile's unexpected presence at the party, creating tension. The evening culminates with the arrival of the Hosts, causing the typical hush and fascination among the attendees, particularly among the visiting crew members who have never seen them before.

Avice and Scile settle into their new life in Embassytown after their return, with Avice discovering that despite her outward complaints about returning to her 'little place,' she finds herself genuinely happy to be home. Their status as a nonex (non-exclusive) marriage makes them objects of curiosity, and they quickly integrate into various social circles, with Avice's Bremen currency and immerser status giving them additional cachet in local society.

Avice becomes romantically involved with CalVin, who provides both her and Scile with unprecedented access to Host society. Through CalVin's influence, they attend official functions and gain insights into Embassytown's political workings. Scile's fascination with Language and the Hosts grows, leading him to study recordings extensively and question fundamental aspects of Host consciousness and communication. His inquiries begin to reveal a deeper skepticism about the nature of Ambassador pairs and how they achieve their unique ability to communicate.

The chapter culminates in Avice and Scile's attendance at a Festival of Lies in the Host city, a remarkable event where Ambassadors demonstrate their ability to speak untruths in Language - something the Hosts find both fascinating and intoxicating. During this festival, some brave Hosts attempt to mimic the humans' ability to lie, mostly failing but occasionally achieving minor successes with slight variations of truth. The event ends with a powerful moment when Hosts recognize Avice, apparently aware of her significance as a living simile in their Language.

At the Arrival Ball, the Hosts arrive to meet EzRa, their distinctive fanwing patterns, carapace shading, and eye-antler shapes on full display. Avice notes the detailed physiological variations while admitting she rarely bothers to identify individual Hosts anymore, observing that this delegation consists of middle-aged Hosts in their third instar, some adorned with ceremonial sashes and jeweled decorations.

Bremen's motivations for EzRa's unprecedented appointment become a subject of speculation. The traditional Ambassador system, with its clone farms and careful child-rearing practices, has operated for nearly a century of Embassytown time. Avice wonders whether Bremen's interest stems from Ariekene biorigging capabilities, which far surpass human scientific achievements, though she questions if this alone justifies such a dramatic departure from established diplomatic protocol.

After formal introductions by JoaQuin and MayBel, EzRa delivers their first official speech in Language, with Ez as the Cut and Ra as the Turn. Their technical execution appears flawless—good accent, proper timing—yet the observers remain so focused on EzRa's performance that they fail to notice the Hosts' reactions, suggesting something significant has occurred that will soon demand attention.

EzRa's first speech to the Hosts at the Arrival Ball triggers an unprecedented crisis. While the technical execution of their communication seemed correct, the Hosts' reaction is deeply troubling - they begin swaying as if dizzy, experiencing spasms and neurotic repetitive movements. Even their zelles (battery-beasts) react adversely through their biological connections, staggering and making unusual sounds.

The situation deteriorates further when EzRa attempts a second communication, asking if the Hosts are alright. This causes an even more severe reaction, with the Hosts falling into a glazed state and one even moaning from its Cut mouth. The Ariekei begin loudly talking over each other, repeatedly asking about the new Ambassador in a chaotic manner. The Staff and other Ambassadors quickly move to contain the situation, ushering the affected Hosts away while JoaQuin attempts to maintain calm by dismissing the incident as a minor misunderstanding.

The political ramifications become immediately apparent as the established power structure closes ranks. When Avice attempts to question EdGar about the incident, she is abruptly dismissed, despite her previous status and knowledge. The chapter ends with a stark reminder of the hierarchical nature of Embassytown, as Avice realizes that regardless of her experiences and contributions, it will be the Ambassadors in closed session who determine the meaning and consequences of this troubling event.

In the aftermath of the Festival of Lies, Avice discovers more about her unique status as a simile in Host society. The Hosts have apparently been 'speaking her' regularly during her absence, and upon learning her identity at the festival, they express intense interest in her presence. This newfound recognition leads to invitations to various Host gatherings and conventions, where she encounters other humans who serve as linguistic constructs, including Hasser, who initially presents himself as an 'example' but later reveals he is actually another simile like herself.

The chapter explores the intricate political dynamics of these Host conventions, where Ariekei gather to debate and theorize about language constructs. Some Hosts argue about Avice's effectiveness as a simile, with certain factions believing she could have been 'better made' to express different concepts, though they struggle to articulate what those concepts might be. These gatherings expose a previously hidden aspect of Staff and Ambassador interactions with the Hosts, as Avice observes their movements through the Host city in ways she never knew existed.

Meanwhile, Avice's relationship with CalVin grows increasingly strained during this period, partly due to tension over her expanded access to Host society. Their intimate moments become fraught as Avice finds herself able to distinguish between the pair, particularly in the mornings before they perform their 'corrections' to maintain uniformity. The chapter concludes with Avice learning about a community of similes and other language constructs who meet regularly to discuss their unique status, though she finds herself contemptuous of their preoccupation with their roles in Language.

The Arrival Ball continues with forced normalcy following the Hosts' disturbing reaction to EzRa's speech. Avice attempts to gather information about the incident, first through Ehrsul, who is unable to hack into any communications, and then through Ambassadors MagDa and EsMé. Her efforts are interrupted by Scile's unexpected appearance, who is summoned by the Ambassadors to speak with Ra, demonstrating his growing influence within Staff circles. The tension between Avice and Scile becomes apparent as he refuses to share information with her, though he cryptically admits that the evening's events weren't what he expected.

The chapter reveals the evolving power dynamics in Embassytown, particularly how Scile has become integrated into the Staff's inner circle through his linguistic theories. Despite their marriage, Scile and Avice's relationship has grown distant, with Avice feeling jealous not of his romantic liaisons but of his access to information and his new status. The narrative provides insight into how the Ambassadors have begun valuing theoretical knowledge about Language, marking a significant shift in their traditional approach.

The final portion of the chapter offers a detailed look at Embassytown's physical structure and limitations. The city is described as densely packed, with narrow streets unsuitable for personal vehicles, surrounded by the Host city except at its northern border. The Embassy building dominates the landscape, rising over a hundred meters and melting into the surrounding streets at its base. The chapter concludes with Avice and Ehrsul retiring to her apartment, unable to find any information about the evening's events on the local network, leaving them both concerned about the implications of EzRa's first interaction with the Hosts.

Following her earlier skepticism about the simile community, Avice receives an invitation from Hasser to meet with other humans who serve as living similes in Host Language. Despite her initial reluctance and attempts to intimidate him, she agrees to attend a gathering at The Cravat, a wine-café in one of Embassytown's declining areas. The journey there provides insights into Embassytown's social structure, with Avice noting that despite some areas appearing run-down, the city lacks true slums compared to other worlds she's visited.

At The Cravat, Avice meets around a dozen other similes, each defined by specific actions or experiences that make them useful in Host Language. She learns about their linguistic functions: Darius who wore tools instead of jewelry, Shanita who was kept blind and awake, and Valdik who must swim weekly with fishes. The gathering reveals different categories of similes, including some based on inanimate objects, though most are human. Notably, while some Staff and Ambassadors are also similes, they never attend these meetings, apparently uncomfortable with being part of Language rather than speaking it.

Despite her initial disdain for the group's political discussions about Bremen and independence, Avice finds herself returning to future meetings. The chapter delves deeper into the nature of being a simile through Valdik's story, revealing the distinction between one-time similes like Avice and 'ongoing' similes like Valdik, who must continue performing specific actions to maintain their linguistic validity. The chapter concludes with Avice sharing her own story of similification, earning credibility among the group, though she remains conflicted about their tendency to dramatize their experiences, particularly when Hasser relates his story of being 'opened and closed again.'

In the days following the disastrous Arrival Ball, Embassytown's Embassy maintains a facade of normalcy while dealing with an unprecedented crisis. Though regular operations continue on the surface, those in the know can sense the mounting tension, particularly after the departure of the immerser crew under unusually subdued circumstances. Avice attempts to gather information by accessing the state offices, having to employ her floaking skills to get past security, only to find the interior in chaos with Staff engaged in whispered arguments.

The situation proves more severe than initially apparent, as Simmon reveals to Avice that the Hosts have completely ceased communication with Embassytown. Not only are they absent from their scheduled appointments, but they're also not responding to any attempts at contact. The Embassy staff appears divided, with some Ambassadors, particularly Ag and Nes, blaming Wyatt and Bremen for the crisis, suggesting this might be some kind of political maneuver involving EzRa, who have disappeared since the party.

Avice's attempt to gain insight by contacting Wyatt reveals an unexpected twist - the Bremen representative himself is being deliberately excluded from Staff meetings through careful political maneuvering. Despite his official authority, the Ambassadors have managed to keep him out of crucial discussions by holding them during 'Any Other Business' sessions of mundane committee meetings. Wyatt's frustrated response reveals both his relative powerlessness in the current situation and his dismissal of the notion that this crisis stems from a simple cultural misunderstanding.

The chapter concludes with important revelations about Wyatt's true role and Bremen's military presence in Embassytown. Though he maintains a patient and flexible approach to local governance, Wyatt's position includes control over hidden weapons caches and command of disguised military personnel. This underlying military presence serves as both protection and implicit threat, highlighting the complex power dynamics between Bremen and its colony, even as the immediate crisis with the Hosts remains unresolved.

In the period before the current crisis, The Cravat wine-café served as an unofficial meeting place where Hosts would venture into Embassytown neighborhoods to interact with human similes. These visitors displayed their status through elaborate sashes and decorative elements, seeking out the linguistic constructs with what appeared to be genuine fascination. While some similes affected weariness at these encounters, the meetings clearly held great significance for the group, though Ehrsul found her single visit uncomfortable and never returned.

The similes developed familiar relationships with their Host visitors, creating nicknames based on physical characteristics - Stumpy, Croissant, Fiver, and Spanish Dancer among them. Spanish Dancer became particularly significant to Avice, using her simile in innovative ways that emphasized potential change rather than mere accommodation. This linguistic virtuosity demonstrated the Hosts' deep fascination with language, though Avice remained uncertain whether this obsession predated human contact or resulted from it. Scile's refusal to attend these meetings, despite his persistent interest in them, highlighted growing tensions in their relationship.

Beneath the surface camaraderie lay complex political dynamics within the simile community. While The Cravat presented itself as a salon of intellectual debate, discussions remained strictly limited in scope. Their seemingly radical stance masked deep loyalty to Staff and the Ambassador system, violently demonstrated when they rejected a young man's anti-Staff sentiments. Avice's intervention in this incident exposed the fundamental contradiction of their position - despite pretensions to independence, they remained entirely dependent on the Ambassadors who could speak them to the Hosts.

Embassytown enters a state of crisis as the Hosts completely cease communication with the colony after the disastrous Arrival Ball. While daily life continues on the surface, the situation grows increasingly tense, with corvid ships unable to land and Ambassadors making desperate attempts to communicate with unresponsive Hosts. The crisis remains partially hidden from the general population, though rumors spread from those who witnessed the events at the party.

The situation takes an unexpected turn when Ra appears at Avice's door, seeking information and help. Separated from Ez and apparently acting independently, Ra reveals that after two days of silence, a large group of Hosts returned to the Embassy specifically requesting to speak with EzRa. When EzRa spoke to them, the Hosts experienced the same disturbing physical reactions as before, but this time one Host cryptically declared 'I told you' to its companions before they all departed, leaving the Staff and Ambassadors in disarray.

The chapter culminates in Ra's arrest, though it's presented as protective custody. MagDa arrives with security officers to retrieve Ra, who surrenders without resistance. The pretense of protection rather than imprisonment highlights the political delicacy of the situation, even as it becomes clear that EzRa are being isolated from the rest of Embassytown's power structure. The chapter ends with Avice watching Ra being led away to join Ez in what she suspects will be comfortable but secure confinement.

Embassytown's religious landscape reveals a diverse mix of faiths transplanted from Bremen, including the prominent Church of God Pharotekton with its lighthouse towers. While some ultra-orthodox adherents struggle to maintain Bremen-based religious calendars, most colonists, including the Kedis and Shur'asi, follow their own spiritual paths or choose not to believe at all.

Avice's growing interest in the Festivals of Lies leads her to seek observation of Beehive through CalVin's reluctant assistance, arranging to attend another festival with fellow similes. The chapter reveals deeper divisions among the Hosts, with different factions dubbed 'critics' and 'Professors,' each holding distinct views on language and human similes. Beehive's group, including Spanish Dancer, Spindle, and Longjohn, takes a particularly controversial approach to linguistic experimentation.

The narrative takes a darker turn with the revelation that Scile has been making mysterious visits to The Cravat, placing nuts and bolts on tables in what appears to be an attempt to create himself as a simile. This disturbing development is followed by a dramatic Festival of Lies scene, where Beehive performs an unprecedented feat of quick-lying, declaring 'Before the humans came, we didn't speak.' This radical lie, delivered without the usual careful techniques of slow-lying or whispered half-truths, causes a sensation among the Hosts and reveals fundamental truths about their evolutionary relationship with language. The chapter concludes with varied reactions to this linguistic breakthrough: while Avice is delighted, Valdik and Scile are horrified, suggesting deeper implications for Host society and human-Host relations.

Staff begins gathering representatives from the Kedis and Shur'asi communities for emergency meetings at the Embassy, signaling a new phase of crisis in Embassytown. The situation's gravity becomes apparent to the general population as news cameras capture these unusual movements, with Staff members showing uncharacteristic tension when dealing with media coverage. Avice, unable to contact her usual sources of information, begins preparing for potential disaster by gathering essentials and backing up important data.

The crisis escalates dramatically when masses of Hosts begin an unprecedented march into Embassytown proper. Moving as a collective herd, Hosts of all ages and developmental stages flood the streets, creating a spectacle that draws crowds of human onlookers in their nightclothes. The Ariekei ignore attempts by Ambassadors to communicate with them, instead moving purposefully toward the Embassy while chanting EzRa's name, marking the first time Hosts have entered human territory in such numbers.

The confrontation reaches its climax at the Embassy steps, where the Hosts demand to hear EzRa speak. Despite resistance from other Ambassadors, JoaQuin and MayBel ultimately relent, allowing EzRa to address the crowd. When EzRa speaks, the Hosts experience their now-familiar ecstatic reaction, appearing to enter a trance-like state. After recovering, the Hosts begin to disperse, refusing further communication attempts from other Ambassadors, while security forces move to clear the streets. The chapter ends with an ominous tone as the Hosts depart in disarray, leaving the Embassy's attempts at control and communication frustrated.

Scile disappears for several days after Beehive's revolutionary quick-lie at the Festival of Lies, refusing to communicate with Avice except through terse messages. His behavior suggests secret meetings with Ambassadors, and when he finally returns, the simmering tension between him and Avice erupts into a major argument about his recent conduct and mysterious absences.

The confrontation takes an unexpected turn when Scile reveals transcripts of Beehive's (Surl Tesh-echer's) private teachings to its followers. The documents show Beehive systematically training itself to progress from similes to metaphors, attempting to bridge the gap between comparison and direct equation. The transcripts reveal an unprecedented linguistic evolution, with Beehive's language showing subtle similarities to Anglo-Ubiq in its structure, marking a departure from traditional Host Language patterns.

Scile's reaction to these developments reveals his growing ideological extremism. He views Beehive's experiments with language as a dangerous corruption, interpreting the Host's attempts to master metaphor as an introduction of 'evil' into their world. His academic understanding of linguistic theory has transformed into a quasi-religious conviction about protecting the Hosts from language evolution. The chapter concludes with Avice seeking help from both Ehrsul and CalVin, expressing her deep concern about Scile's increasingly radical views and behavior, though neither seems to fully grasp the gravity of the situation.

Avice's worry about her husband's mental state deepens as she examines his research notes and files, finding his work largely incomprehensible and filled with scattered memos showing growing signs of obsession. CalVin agrees to keep watch over Scile at her request, but surprisingly suggests that some of his theories might have merit, particularly regarding Beehive's linguistic experiments.

Embassytown enters the 'doldrums' - the period between relief ships when the colony turns inward, hosting festivals and parties to maintain morale. During this introspective time, Scile begins attending The Cravat regularly, subtly influencing the similes there with his theories about Language's purity and truth. Most disturbing is his effect on Valdik, who becomes increasingly receptive to Scile's ideological stance about similes representing the pinnacle and limit of Language.

The situation escalates as Valdik emerges as the public face of a growing movement, preaching against linguistic evolution and change. Though his following remains small, consisting mainly of the 'hopeless and bored,' the movement gains enough traction to distribute propaganda and hold meetings in public halls. Avice's suggestion to have Valdik detained is dismissed by CalVin, who promise to watch over Scile but seem to have their own agenda regarding the developing situation. The chapter ends with an ominous note about CalVin's protection of Scile being different from what Avice had intended.

A viral program infiltrates Embassytown's vagrant automa population, transforming the machines into zealous preachers of Valdik's ideology about Language purity. The infected automa refer to the Hosts as 'speaking angels' and continue their religious proclamations for weeks, despite patches created to counter the virus. Their degrading programming eventually causes them to deviate too far from accepted doctrine, though no proof emerges linking Valdik and his followers to the attack.

The social fabric of Embassytown continues to fray as The Cravat's regular clientele splits into opposing factions. Some similes abandon the establishment, setting up their own 'refusenik' salons in protest of Valdik's increasingly extreme pronouncements, while others are drawn to his radical theology. Meanwhile, Beehive continues to attend gatherings with an expanding group of followers, suggesting its improving mastery of lies, creating tension between the Host's linguistic evolution and Valdik's traditionalist movement.

In response to the growing unrest, CalVin and other Ambassadors plan an unprecedented 'Licence Party' - a hybrid festival to be held in Embassytown proper, combining human celebrations with a Festival of Lies. However, Avice's mounting concern over Scile's prolonged absence leads to a disastrous confrontation with CalVin. After learning that CalVin had recently met with Scile despite claiming otherwise, Avice attempts to exploit the subtle differences between the Ambassador pair during an intimate moment. This violation of trust results in CalVin's furious rejection of Avice, effectively ending their relationship and leaving her more isolated than ever in her search for answers about Scile's whereabouts.

The long-anticipated Licence Party arrives as a hybrid celebration combining human festivities with a Festival of Lies. Despite the festive atmosphere, tensions from the recent automa virus crisis still simmer beneath the surface as Avice attends alone, having fallen out with both CalVin and Ehrsul. The party features various entertainment zones for both humans and Hosts, with unprecedented numbers of Ariekei attending the celebrations in Embassytown proper.

The Festival of Lies portion begins at midnight, with Ambassadors performing increasingly complex untruths for an enthusiastic audience of both humans and Hosts. The event builds to a dramatic confrontation between Ambassador LuCy and Beehive, who repeats its revolutionary lie about Hosts not speaking before human contact. The performance is violently interrupted when Valdik attacks with a concealed weapon, but this proves to be a distraction for the real assassination. While attention is focused on Valdik, Hasser emerges from behind Pear Tree and murders Beehive with a biorigged weapon.

In the aftermath of Beehive's murder, Embassytown enters a period of unprecedented martial law and tension. Avice, observing the reactions of CalVin, Scile, and Pear Tree during the assassination, realizes that Beehive's death was a carefully orchestrated execution by both human and Host authorities, who saw its linguistic innovations as dangerous. The chapter reveals that Scile, now fully integrated into Staff, had manipulated religious zealots like Valdik and Hasser to achieve this end. The narrative concludes with Avice's resigned acceptance of the situation, choosing survival over protest, as she learns that Scile has become a simile himself, though one whose usage she never hears. The chapter ends with her decision to stay in Embassytown to witness the arrival of EzRa, despite knowing that chaos would follow.

Following the Hosts' disturbing reaction to EzRa's speech, Embassytown settles into an uneasy quiet. Citizens wander the streets trying to make sense of their new reality, while news outlets offer meaningless platitudes about monitoring the situation. Avice attempts to gather information, first visiting Ehrsul, who remains isolated in her apartment and admits she has no access to reliable intelligence about EzRa's whereabouts or the current crisis.

Driven by desperation for answers, Avice visits Bren at his house by the coin wall for the first time since childhood. During their conversation, Bren reveals the dark secret of failed Ambassadors - explaining that not all clone pairs succeed in their training, with some being kept hidden in the Embassy crèche while others, like himself, become 'cleaved' after losing their other half. He shares the story of WilSon, a previous Ambassador pair whose slightly misaligned Language caused some Hosts to become intoxicated by their speech.

The true nature of 'Oratees' is finally revealed - they are Hosts who become addicted to the fractured Language of imperfect Ambassadors. Bren explains that the Embassy must have known about this phenomenon and likely hoped EzRa would only affect a few Hosts as addicts, using them as a political tool against Bremen. Instead, their imperfect Language has proven universally addictive to all Hosts, transforming the entire Ariekei population into desperate addicts craving EzRa's speech. The chapter ends with the horrifying realization that they are now living in a city of divine beings turned junkies, with Bren declaring it 'the end of the world.'

Bren's revelation about EzRa's addictive speech transforms Embassytown into a surreal landscape caught between carnival and apocalypse. Citizens desperately attempt to enter the Host city, forcing constables to apprehend those wearing biorigging suits, though some likely succeed in crossing over. The mood oscillates between hysteria, giddiness, and a sense of impending doom as the reality of the Hosts' addiction becomes undeniable to everyone, despite possible attempts by some in the Embassy to control the flow of information.

Avice manages to bluff her way back into the Embassy, where she finds the Ambassadors in complete disarray. During an encounter with EdGar, she learns that EzRa are no longer even speaking to each other, suggesting a complete breakdown in their partnership. The crisis deepens as signs of an obscure malaise spread through the Host city, building by building, leading to an emergency meeting when an Ariekene ship-beast arrives at the Embassy.

The formal meeting between Hosts and humans reveals the full extent of the crisis. The Hosts, speaking rapidly and with unprecedented certainty, declare their absolute need to hear EzRa speak, using the rare unqualified future tense in Language. The situation is complicated by the surprise appearance of Scile alongside EzRa at the meeting, his presence ambiguous - either protecting or menacing the pair. Despite their evident reluctance and mutual antipathy, Ez and Ra are compelled to speak together in Language, bringing the gathered Hosts to their now-familiar state of rapture. Meanwhile, some Staff members begin calculating strategies for survival, trying to determine how Embassytown might continue to function under these new circumstances.

Embassytown descends into a chaotic new reality as citizens and officials struggle to adapt to their transformed world following EzRa's devastating impact on the Hosts. While some give in to hedonistic despair through parties and liaisons, the city's clerks and civil servants emerge as unlikely heroes, working tirelessly to establish new systems and structures to keep the colony functioning. The political landscape shifts dramatically as Wyatt's attempted insurgency is suppressed, with Simmon playing a key role in securing Bremen's hidden weapons cache, though Wyatt himself remains imprisoned.

The full extent of the Hosts' addiction becomes horrifyingly clear as they gather outside the Embassy, demanding to hear EzRa speak. The addiction proves so potent that it spreads through the biorigged infrastructure of the city itself, causing buildings to shake and convulse in withdrawal. Ez, despite his increasing self-destruction through drinking and drugs, maintains control over the situation by refusing to allow his speeches with Ra to be recorded in full, ensuring his continued necessity. Meanwhile, the Hosts neglect their duties and territories outside the city, leading to concerns about the colony's long-term survival.

The breakdown of the Ambassador system becomes evident as formerly paired Ambassadors begin to show visible differences, losing their characteristic uniformity. This is particularly apparent with CalVin, who are now clearly distinguishable as Cal and Vin, with Vin making a desperate personal approach to Avice. The chapter reveals the tragic news of MarSha's suicide, with MagDa warning that more Ambassador deaths may follow. The situation appears increasingly desperate as various Ambassadors attempt to communicate with the Hosts in the city, only to find them uninterested in any voice but EzRa's.

Embassytown's citizens begin making expeditions into the Host city to maintain essential infrastructure and biorigged systems in the wake of EzRa's addictive effect on the Ariekei. These missions reveal the full extent of the Hosts' addiction, with many gathering around speakers waiting for EzRa's next broadcast. Ez, increasingly difficult to manage, now demands control over the content of their speeches, using the platform to deliver an ongoing autobiography in serialized form, complete with cliff-hangers, though the actual content matters little to the addicted Hosts.

The city itself shows signs of addiction, with buildings developing ears and walls reacting viscerally to human presence. Despite the chaos, some order emerges as a group of Hosts - including those nicknamed Scissors, RedRag, and Skully - attempt to cooperate with humans to maintain essential services. Meanwhile, Embassytown struggles to maintain basic functions, with schools reopening and institutions continuing to operate, though violence, suicides, and social breakdown persist. The Ambassador crisis deepens with the suicide of HenRy, found poisoned with their partner, while ShelBy remains missing.

Ehrsul's withdrawal from reality becomes complete as she remains trapped in her apartment, responding to visitors with meaningless pleasantries while ignoring any mention of the current crisis. Her behavior suggests either a programming malfunction or a deliberate retreat from the chaos. The chapter culminates in Avice joining Ez's security detail alongside Simmon, who has had to remove his biorigged arm after it became addicted to EzRa's speech. Ez's relationship with Ra deteriorates further, with both showing unprecedented hostility toward each other, while Ez maintains control over their broadcasts through manipulative behavior and threats of non-compliance.

A small group of dissidents including Avice, MagDa, and other Staff members begins organizing resistance efforts against the growing crisis. They establish contact with some of the more coherent Ariekei who recognize the addiction as a problem, even managing to bring some into the Embassy for discussions. MagDa uses stolen recordings of EzRa as bargaining chips, revealing that some Hosts refer to EzRa as the 'god-drug' - not as a kenning, but as literal truth.

The group launches expeditions into the outlying areas, where Avice and others trade recordings of EzRa's speech for necessary biorigged equipment. These missions, while successful, knowingly spread the addiction to previously less-affected rural Hosts. The countryside reveals a devastating picture: abandoned farms, feral biorigging, and increasing violence among the Hosts. The situation worsens when one of their expeditions ends in tragedy, with LeNa and their crew found dead in their crashed dirigible.

The crisis reaches its breaking point when Ez and Ra have their final, fatal confrontation in MagDa's rooms. What begins as an argument ostensibly about MagDa escalates until Ez murders Ra. The scene is discovered by Avice and others, finding Da huddled outside the door and Mag inside with Ra's body. Ez, covered in blood, can only stammer incoherent apologies. The chapter ends with Avice alone with Ra's corpse, realizing that without the Ambassador pair intact, Embassytown and all its inhabitants are doomed.

Ra's murder sends shockwaves through MagDa's resistance group, forcing them to conceal the death for several days while carefully rationing their dwindling supply of recorded EzRa speeches. Ez remains in custody under Avice's supervision, pathetically unchanged by his actions and continuing to ramble through his life story while refusing to reveal his original mission from Bremen. When news of Ra's death inevitably spreads through Embassytown, widespread panic erupts and forces the evacuation of outlying areas.

Desperate Hosts begin attacking human residences, convinced they harbor hidden recordings of EzRa's voice. One such assault results in a human death, but also reveals a startling development: a new faction of Hosts who have deliberately mutilated their own fanwings to escape their addiction to EzRa's speech. These self-mutilated Hosts violently attack their addicted brethren, exposing deep divisions forming within Ariekei society between those consumed by addiction and those seeking radical solutions.

At Bren's house, Avice encounters YlSib, a rogue Ambassador pair who had previously abandoned Embassytown and now live secretly in the city. Their presence reveals a hidden world of guerrilla Ambassadors and unquiet cleaved, suggesting deeper fractures within Embassytown's society than previously known. YlSib explains that three distinct factions have emerged among the Hosts: those dying from addiction, those attempting to manage their dependency through rationing, and the radical dissidents who mutilate themselves to escape addiction entirely. YlSib hints at a plan to address the crisis.

YlSib's suggestion to find a replacement for EzRa leads Bren to present their plan to MagDa's committee: opening the Embassy's secret infirmary. This hidden facility, accessed through convoluted corridors near the top of the Embassy, serves as a prison, asylum, and hospital for failed Ambassadors. The group ventures into the dangerous Host city to capture a test subject, eventually securing an Ariekes desperate for EzRa's voice.

The infirmary reveals a disturbing truth about Embassytown's Ambassador program - there are far more failed Ambassadors than successful ones. The facility houses various types of failures: those who never achieved the necessary mental unity, those driven mad by cleavage, and even children who couldn't be 'fixed.' The conditions range from opulent rooms to sparse cells, with some inmates restrained and others allowed relative freedom, all under constant supervision by medical staff maintaining an eerily normal routine despite the crisis outside.

The committee conducts a series of tests with seventeen different imprisoned Ambassador pairs, including XerXes, FeyRis, and others of varying ages. While some can still speak a form of Language, none produce the addictive effect of EzRa's speech on their test subject. After exhausting all options, MagDa makes the shocking decision to have researchers dissect their captured Ariekes, hoping to understand the biological basis of its addiction to EzRa's speech. This marks a fundamental shift in Embassytown's approach to the crisis, with MagDa deliberately choosing to cross a moral line - authorizing the vivisection of a sentient being - to give their people 'dirty hope' for survival.

The failed vivisection attempt transforms Embassytown into a fortified war zone. Citizens construct barricades from destroyed homes, create gun towers from buildings, and establish defensive positions against the addicted Hosts. A disturbing new phenomenon emerges as citizens dubbed 'morituri' voluntarily walk into Host territory on suicide missions, cheered on by crowds who gather to watch their departures. Ambassador EdGar's suicide triggers a wave of copycat deaths among other citizens, deepening the crisis.

The Hosts themselves have transformed into horrifying versions of their former selves, emaciated or distended from hunger, with discolored eyes and irregular movements. While some Hosts still attempt cooperation, trading resources and maintaining diplomatic contact through MagDa and RanDolph, others have become completely feral, attacking the barricades in desperate attempts to reach EzRa's voice. The defenders face the traumatic reality of killing these attacking Hosts - beings who were once their neighbors and allies. Meanwhile, various animals, both Terre and indigenous, begin to occupy the abandoned streets, creating an eerie ecosystem in the war zone.

During this period of crisis, citizens find unexpected comfort in ancient human entertainment, particularly old films about survivors fighting against hordes of sick enemies - a parallel that hits uncomfortably close to their reality. The situation grows even more complex with the emergence of self-mutilated Hosts who violently oppose their addicted brethren. A massive coordinated attack by addicted Hosts is repelled only with help from this self-mutilated faction, highlighting the complete fracturing of Host society.

The chapter culminates in a devastating discovery: Vin's suicide, leaving Cal alone - an unprecedented situation for an Ambassador pair. Cal remains in shock, unable to comprehend how he didn't feel his other half's death through their neural link, raising disturbing questions about the nature of Ambassador bonds.

Avice finds herself comforting the surviving Cal, who struggles to understand how he didn't sense his other half Vin's death. During this encounter, she receives a suicide note from Scile, who has walked into Host territory to die. Despite pressure from MagDa and others to read Scile's final theological musings about Language and the fall of the Hosts, Avice refuses, having already guessed its religious content about Language being divine and the Hosts being angels.

As the crisis in Embassytown deepens, surveillance footage reveals different factions of Hosts: the completely addicted, the self-mutilated rebels, and those trying to maintain civilization while caring for their young and elders. Through camera footage, Avice catches a brief glimpse of Scile walking into dangerous territory, displaying neither depression nor fear, but rather a sort of exploratory curiosity. Meanwhile, Wyatt, still imprisoned, demands to see Ez after learning of Ra's death, claiming he can stop the crisis.

In a shocking revelation, Wyatt explains that Ez is actually Joel Rukowsi, a Bremen operative specially augmented to mimic others' brainwave patterns. Bremen's plan had been to break Embassytown's monopoly on Language by creating artificial Ambassador pairs, thereby preventing the colony's independence. The plan backfired catastrophically due to an unexpected quirk in how the Hosts processed EzRa's speech. Wyatt further reveals that Bremen's interest in maintaining control over Embassytown stems not from its resources or biorigging, but from its strategic location as a potential last port before unexplored regions of the immer, making it crucial for Bremen's expansion plans.

The situation in Embassytown has devolved into complete chaos, with different groups of Ariekei adopting various survival strategies. Some remain in holdout settlements trying to maintain civilization between bouts of withdrawal, while others have become mindless hunters searching for food and EzRa's voice. An unexpected development occurs as groups of Hosts begin leaving the city through industrial passages into the countryside, though their motivations remain unclear - whether seeking EzRa elsewhere or simply choosing a quieter death away from the urban carnage.

Following Wyatt's revelations about Ra's implant, the committee exhumes Ra's body and extracts the sophisticated Terretech device from his brain. The thumb-sized implant, designed to boost and coordinate brain patterns between Ez and Ra, becomes the focus of intense research under Yanna Southel's supervision. The scientists discover it functions as both an amplifier and stimulant, specifically targeting empathy centers in the brain. Ez, revealed as Joel Rukowsi, proves unhelpful in explaining the technology's workings, seeming more consumed by his own secrets than concerned with survival.

The committee begins formulating a plan to create a new partner for Ez, with Bren explaining to Avice why Cal is the only logical choice. Cal's intense hatred for Ez, fueled by Vin's death, makes him the perfect candidate to recreate the antagonistic dynamic that made EzRa's speech so potent to the Hosts. Before his surgery, Cal has a confrontation with Avice, giving her Vin's suicide note and hinting at complex motivations behind his and Vin's involvement with Scile. The chapter concludes with MagDa violently forcing Ez's compliance in the upcoming partnership with Cal, demonstrating the desperate measures now deemed necessary for survival.

Embassytown's infrastructure crumbles as biorigged weapons die, Terretech systems fail, and food supplies from the farming loops are severed. The aeoli, relocated but struggling without Host expertise, can barely maintain breathable air while addicted Hosts continue their relentless assault on the barricades. Resources have dwindled to critical levels, and the city's defenses are collapsing on multiple fronts.

Into this desperate scenario, EzCal makes their dramatic public debut in the Embassy square. Cal appears physically transformed—head shaved, surgical sutures visible, movements erratic from drug cocktails—standing alongside a subdued Ez. Their first public interaction reveals a carefully rehearsed dynamic with Cal taking the lead and Ez following, demonstrating the powerful antagonistic relationship that mirrors the previous EzRa partnership.

EzCal's inaugural speech in Language proves transformative, sending ripples through both human and Host populations. The addicted city itself responds to their voice: buildings reawaken, Hosts emerge from withdrawal symptoms, and the very infrastructure—from chitin stairs to gas-raised dwellings—reinvigorates. This success suggests a potential path forward for Embassytown, though not an entirely wholesome one. It implies the establishment of a 'narcocracy' where Hosts who can control their addiction might rule over those who cannot, with humans carefully managing the supply of EzCal's speech as a controlled substance.

Avice returns to her role as a trader, venturing into the countryside with MayBel as their speaker in the wake of EzCal's emergence as the new god-drug. The landscape has changed dramatically, marked by skeletons of dead biorigging and the tracks of refugee movements both toward and away from the city. They encounter rural Hosts who are now functioning addicts under EzCal's influence, some still yearning for EzRa's voice while others prefer the new god-drug. Unlike the mindless addiction to EzRa, the Hosts under EzCal's influence maintain clearer minds and can actually comprehend and respond to specific commands.

The city itself undergoes transformation as the Hosts rebuild it under EzCal's influence, creating a more varied and village-like architecture with new chemical processes emerging from their reactions to EzCal's voice. Cal takes an unexpectedly assertive role, moving beyond simple broadcasts to actively parading through the streets with Ez, demonstrating unprecedented control over the Hosts through direct commands. This marks a significant shift from EzRa's purely intoxicating effect, as the Hosts now not only crave the voice but understand and obey its content.

Through Bren's connections, Avice meets secretly with YlSib and a group of resistant Hosts, including Spanish Dancer and other former companions of Surl Tesh-echer. These Hosts represent a form of resistance, deliberately avoiding EzCal's broadcasts and struggling to maintain their autonomy. They use Avice's status as a simile in their attempts to find new ways of using Language, revealing their resentment not only of their drug addiction but also their inability to disobey EzCal's commands. The chapter concludes with Bren explaining why MagDa's plan to wait for relief ships won't work, pointing out the dangerous direction of EzCal's leadership and the ethical question of what will happen to the addicted Hosts when humans eventually leave.

The corvid flyer vanishes during routine rounds, leading to the grim discovery of a massacre at one of Embassytown's outlying farms. The investigation team finds the bodies of Lo, Vizier Jaques, and Gorrin among others, with unusual wounds suggesting deliberate attacks rather than crash injuries. The nearby ranch lies destroyed, with evidence of fanwing mutilation and sabotaged supply lines.

EzCal's political control grows more overt as they make daily processions through the city with elaborate pomp. Cal, contrary to expectations, takes an aggressive leadership role, reducing rations and ordering military responses to the farm attacks. The power structure shifts further when EzCal publicly designates Pear Tree as regent of a chosen township, effectively creating a collaborative government between Embassytown and a section of the Host city. This development complicates the resistance efforts of Bren, YlSib, and their allies.

The situation reaches a horrifying climax when PorSha and a team of constables are attacked during a farm inspection. Through surveillance footage, the committee witnesses a massive force of self-mutilated Hosts systematically killing humans and destroying infrastructure. When EzCal attempts to intervene through speaker systems, the attackers demonstrate their immunity to the god-drug's commands by capturing and forcibly mutilating a farm-working Host, removing its fanwings while ignoring EzCal's orders to stop. This brutal display confirms that the self-mutilated Hosts have become completely independent of Language control, representing a new and terrifying threat to Embassytown's survival.

The self-mutilated Hosts escalate their campaign beyond simple attacks, systematically recruiting others through forced fanwing removal. This brutal process transforms victims into new soldiers for their cause, though the mechanism of their coordination remains a mystery. The situation deteriorates rapidly as visceral pipelines are destroyed, supply lines are cut, and attempts to defend outlying areas prove largely futile. Even when equipped with rare out-tech, human troops suffer heavy casualties during incidents like the Cliff-Edge attack.

EzCal attempts to establish control by implementing new administrative measures and organizing joint patrols between human constables and Ariekei militia. However, these efforts quickly fail due to communication issues between the species. The initiative culminates in disaster when the fourth patrol is attacked, leaving the human members dead and the Ariekei recruits forcibly inducted into the rebel army. Through discussions with YlSib and the resistance, Avice learns the full implications of fanwing removal. Without these organs, Hosts cannot hear or speak, essentially losing their ability to think in Language and transforming them into something akin to psychopaths operating on pure instinct.

The crisis reaches a devastating turning point when surveillance footage reveals an army of thousands of self-mutilated Hosts marching toward Embassytown. The footage, initially suppressed by bureaucrats reporting directly to EzCal, shows the true scale of the threat. Not hundreds but thousands of Hosts march forward, all with removed fanwings, carrying weapons and moving in mysterious coordination despite their inability to communicate. This massive force represents the first true army on this world, composed of beings trapped in soundless solipsism yet somehow sharing a unified destructive purpose aimed at Embassytown.

The approaching self-mutilated Host army forces the colonists to grapple with what to call their enemy, eventually settling on 'the Absurd' after rejecting 'the Deaf' as offensive. Surveillance reveals the army's unprecedented coordination despite their inability to communicate through Language, with groups breaking off for precise tactical maneuvers and forcibly recruiting new members through fanwing removal. Breaking long-standing taboos, the colony accesses maps and geographical data, discovering the true scale of their territory and the extent of the Absurd's recruitment campaign across the continent.

Faced with this threat, EzCal attempts to build a defensive force by ordering Hosts to form an army of their own. Cal takes an increasingly dominant role while Ez becomes almost puppet-like, organizing the defenders through MagDa's translations to avoid overwhelming them with direct commands. However, their defensive force remains severely outnumbered by the approaching Absurd army. In a private conversation with Avice, Cal reveals his complex feelings about Vin's death and his new role, hinting at deeper plans beyond simple military defense.

The situation shifts when MagDa returns from a dangerous mission with two captured Absurd soldiers. During a demonstration in a lecture hall, Cal attempts to study the prisoners' behavior and possible means of communication. The captives display remarkable coordination despite their inability to hear or speak, eventually attempting a synchronized attack that fails. This leads Avice to a revelation about their method of communication, though she initially shares it only with Bren. After careful consideration, they decide they cannot trust EzCal with their discovery, accepting that this choice will make them enemies of the current regime.

Avice ventures alone into the Host city to implement her plan for saving Embassytown, navigating increasingly tribal and dangerous territories in the wake of EzCal's rise to power. Her mission nearly ends in disaster when assassins attack her, but Shonas, a former vizier living in exile in the Host city for eight years, intervenes to save her life. The incident exposes a web of political intrigue involving DalTon, who have been working against both Avice and Cal from within the colony.

With YlSib's assistance, Avice begins the delicate work of teaching Spanish Dancer and other Ariekei followers of Surl Tesh-echer how to lie effectively. Through careful exercises and repeated attempts, she guides them toward understanding metaphor by building on similes, expanding from Surl Tesh-echer's revolutionary insight that 'Before the humans came we didn't speak.' The sessions face constant interruption as the Hosts compulsively listen to EzCal's broadcasts, but progress emerges when Spanish Dancer achieves a breakthrough using contradictory similes.

Bren's arrival with a captured Absurd soldier catalyzes a crucial revelation about the rebels' true nature. Avice explains that the seemingly mindless Absurd have accomplished the impossible—developing a new form of communication through pointing and gesture, creating a system of signification rather than pure reference. This discovery proves that Ariekei can fundamentally alter their thinking, transitioning from literal Language to metaphorical understanding, though the Absurd paid the terrible price of self-mutilation. Recognizing the implications, Avice declares her intention to help the Hosts achieve this cognitive transformation through mastering lies and metaphor, allowing her to evolve from being merely a simile into becoming a true metaphor.

EzCal's forces mobilize for battle against the Absurd army as Avice and her group attempt to escape Embassytown with their captured soldier. The city launches its military response, deploying ancient survey ships and what remains of Bremen's arsenal, though Bren reveals that Wyatt's suggestions of powerful weapons were largely theatrical bluffs. Managing their violent prisoner while avoiding patrols proves challenging, especially during the mandatory silence of EzCal's broadcasts.

Amid the chaos of their escape, Avice persists with her language instruction, working with YlSib to develop a structured catechism based on her own simile. She guides the Hosts through the crucial transition from 'you are like' to the more abstract 'you are,' watching as they struggle toward understanding metaphorical thinking. Though the Ariekei cannot yet fully employ these concepts, they show promising signs of grasping the abstract principles behind metaphor.

Their flight becomes a desperate chase when an Ariekene vessel under EzCal's command pursues them through the forest. Joining with other refugees including Shonas in his glider, the group races toward the Absurd army's position, their passage through the gas-trees leaving a visible trail of destruction. The pursuit culminates in an aerial attack that kills several refugees, including Shonas, forcing the survivors under Spanish Dancer's leadership to abandon their vehicle and seek cover as their attacker continues toward the Languageless army.

Avice's group embarks on a several-day journey through the forest to reach the Absurd army before EzCal's forces engage them. During their trek, they stop regularly to continue language lessons with the Ariekei, who remain dedicated to learning despite the need for periodic EzCal broadcasts. The journey proves perilous but also strange, as the forest's indigenous creatures react with confusion to their mixed group, neither recognizing them as predators nor prey. This confusion actually saves them when a massive creature that would normally attack Ariekei remains still, puzzled by the presence of humans.

The pivotal moment comes when Avice pushes the Hosts to understand the fundamental nature of human consciousness and language. Through careful translation by YlSib, she forces them to confront the reality that Ambassadors are two people and she is one, challenging generations of Ariekene assumptions about consciousness and communication. This breakthrough leads to Spanish Dancer and others beginning to grasp the concept of metaphor, moving beyond simile to understand that humans actually speak language rather than Language, and that multiple forms of communication can exist.

The chapter culminates in a revolutionary transformation as Spanish Dancer and most other Hosts achieve the ability to speak in metaphors rather than just similes. This cognitive leap proves to have an unexpected but crucial side effect - those who master metaphorical thinking become immune to EzCal's addictive speech. When Avice tests this by playing various recordings, only two Hosts who failed to grasp metaphor still react with addiction, while the others listen with mere curiosity. This development suggests a potential solution to the addiction crisis, as the ability to think metaphorically appears to break Language's hold over the Hosts by introducing the concept of signification - the separation of words from their direct referents.

The Ariekei who achieved metaphorical thinking undergo intense physical and psychological reactions throughout the night. Spanish Dancer and others (except Dub and Rooftop who failed to grasp the concept) experience what appears to be a painful transformation as they shed their old way of thinking. This process marks their transition from speaking pure Language, where words were inseparable from reality, to understanding abstract concepts and metaphorical thinking, allowing them to separate signs from what they signify.

As the group continues their journey toward the Absurd army, they encounter refugees fleeing in the opposite direction - plantation staff and wilderness dwellers abandoning their homes in the face of the approaching threat. Overhead, wounded boats return to Embassytown, suggesting failed attempts at reconnaissance or engagement with the Absurd forces. The group deliberately avoids both the refugees and EzCal's forces, which Bren believes are positioned ahead with Ariekei and Terre attempting futile negotiations with the Absurd.

In the new ecosystem of sparse trees, the group observes social predators called [creature name] that hunt in packs by night. Spanish Dancer and the other transformed Ariekei begin showing a different attitude toward their Absurd captive, recognizing a shared capacity for thought despite their different modes of communication. By early morning, a significant shift becomes apparent as the Ariekei circle their prisoner, suggesting a new understanding between those who have learned metaphor and those who achieved new thought through self-mutilation.

Spanish Dancer begins communicating with the captured Absurd soldier through an evolving system of gestures and signs. Their interaction reveals that the Absurd have unknowingly developed their own form of communication through gestures, never realizing they were actually speaking to each other. This discovery leads to a profound moment of mutual recognition between Spanish Dancer's group and the Absurd, as both sides realize they can understand each other through non-Language means.

The group encounters the aftermath of a devastating battle between EzCal's forces and the Absurd army, finding thousands dead from both sides. They discover that EzCal's attempted negotiations had failed catastrophically - the Ariekei negotiators, acting under EzCal's command to 'make them understand,' had simply shouted at the deaf Absurd through loudspeakers with no actual plan. This revelation exposes the futility of EzCal's godlike commands when faced with the reality of the Absurd's condition.

Avice and her group devise a plan to stop the war by demonstrating to the Absurd that some Hosts can hear without being addicted to EzCal's voice. Using Dub and Rooftop's continued addiction as proof, they show the advancing Absurd army that Spanish Dancer and the others can hear but remain unaffected by EzCal's speech. This revelation creates uncertainty in the minds of the Absurd for the first time, leading to a breakthrough in communication between the two groups. Over two days of intensive interaction, the Absurd begin to recognize their own capacity for language through gesture, while Spanish Dancer's group helps them understand that they've been communicating all along.

The chapter culminates in a strategic maneuver as Toweller and Baptist are sent back to Embassytown to deceive EzCal, pretending to still be addicted and luring them to the scene. When surveillance cameras finally discover their location, Avice directly addresses EzCal through the feeds, declaring that Embassytown will survive but must meet certain conditions. The moment marks a turning point as both the Absurd and the New Hearing unite in supporting Avice's ultimatum, suggesting a new path forward for all parties involved.

EzCal arrives at the ridge overlooking the camp-town with their entourage, attempting to maintain an air of authority with elaborate dress and regal bearing, but their power has effectively ended. The officers accompanying them carry weapons, yet unlike previous encounters, they no longer follow EzCal's orders to attack Avice's group, as everyone in Embassytown now knows that Avice and her allies have successfully stopped the Absurd army.

The negotiations between the groups reveal a fundamental power shift, as Avice explains the new reality to EzCal. The Absurd delegates, led by Theuth, work with Spanish Dancer to develop a new ideogrammatic script for communication. The process isn't so much a negotiation as it is explaining facts to EzCal: they must now serve as a 'factory' producing Language for the addicted Hosts until they can be cured through either metaphorical understanding or, as a last resort, fanwing removal. Cal's attempts to maintain diplomatic pretense are undermined by his obvious lack of understanding of the proceedings.

The situation's gravity becomes clear as Avice explains that what they're offering isn't exactly a cure but a transformation - the Hosts who learn metaphor can never return to their original Language. The agreement ensures the survival of Embassytown, but only under strict conditions: EzCal must continue speaking to keep the addicted alive while they undergo treatment, but their speech will be carefully monitored to prevent any attempts at control. Just as this new order is being established, Scile appears unexpectedly on the ridge. Despite Avice's attempts to warn the Absurd to stop him, he approaches with a weapon, initially aiming at various targets before finally shooting and killing Cal, bringing the proceedings to a violent and shocking conclusion.

Spanish Dancer addresses a massive gathering of Hosts in a plaza within their city, marking a pivotal moment as it attempts to teach metaphorical thinking to thousands of addicted Ariekei at once. The plaza, specially prepared by manipulating the surrounding buildings, fills with Hosts expecting their usual EzCal fix, creating a tense atmosphere of anticipation and desperation.

Spanish Dancer's speech proves revolutionary, explaining how Language had controlled the Hosts rather than serving them, making them mere vessels for words that wanted to become reality. It describes their historical relationship with humans, revealing how they created new words to accommodate human presence in their world, while acknowledging that Embassytown had its own identity beyond what they named it. The speech builds to a profound revelation about the nature of consciousness and communication, using Avice's simile as a starting point for understanding metaphorical thinking.

The impact of Spanish Dancer's words proves transformative, though not universally. As it speaks increasingly 'outlandish and impossible' truths, the gathered Hosts experience various stages of reaction - from standard responses to virtuoso lying to something far more profound. Some Hosts undergo the painful transformation to metaphorical thinking, experiencing what Avice recognizes as the death of old thoughts and birth of new consciousness. While many Hosts remain trapped in addiction, desperately calling for EzCal afterward, a significant number achieve the breakthrough to metaphorical understanding, marking the beginning of a new era in Host consciousness.

In the aftermath of Spanish Dancer's revolutionary speech and Cal's murder, Embassytown enters a period of transformation and reconstruction. Scile remains imprisoned in the former infirmary alongside broken Ambassadors, receiving occasional visits from Avice who feels a complex mixture of pity, curiosity, and lingering affection despite his actions. His failed mission is revealed - he had intended to support the Absurd as holy avengers who would purge the 'corrupted' Ariekei and prepare the world for a new generation of pure Language speakers. Instead, he witnessed the success of Spanish Dancer's metaphorical revolution, leading to his desperate final act of killing Cal.

The city itself undergoes dramatic changes as the New Ariekei develop their own culture and ways of thinking. They create a new Anglo-Ariekei language, learn to communicate with automa, and even begin incorporating human architectural elements into their buildings. The addicted Hosts who cannot learn metaphor face different fates - some choose to deafen themselves, while others like Rooftop prepare to establish isolated communities where they can maintain pure Language. These communities will raise children without exposure to human speech, creating taboos around humans and the city to preserve their way of life.

Avice prepares Embassytown for its future role as a frontier port, knowing that Bremen will soon send relief ships carrying new Ambassadors and weapons. The city has developed its own drug production system, with various Ambassador pairs like EzSey and EzLott providing different 'highs' for the remaining addicts. More significantly, Embassytown positions itself as a crucial frontier outpost, planning to offer unique knowledge of immer routes and detailed maps to maintain its independence. The chapter concludes with Avice preparing to captain an immership with Spanish Dancer as her first lieutenant, ready to explore uncharted regions of the immer to establish Embassytown's credentials as an 'explorocracy.'