Epiphany

Today is a Shiji festival day. Salus decides to use it to follow Aneti — both to have a feel for the latter's routine and to see if Aneti slips up.

The Chrysalis Interlude represents a turning point in the epic Impermanence. Salus turns to the words of this epic to enrich ler understanding of ler place in the matters at hand.

Salus has stopped using smart paper to record ler thoughts and reflects candidly on ler options moving forward against Sehutañi.

Salus has spent so much time trying to pry facts out of Liga. Now, after so much time in the dark, le finds limself on the verge of answers — and ultimatums.

Salus and Aneti visit the Necropolis on a day sacred to ancestors, where Aneti will make offerings — but Aneti has more on ler agenda than just giving sustenance to the dead.

Salus remembers when le first met Liga, shortly after Kelis' death — and while le now knows some of why Liga has been so reluctant to talk, that understanding doesn't help.

Deisurås comes to Salus' apartment building carrying documents from Liga and excuses for Liga's behavior.

As Salus prepares to leave for work, Liga calls — and this conversation brings out one of the arguments that has been budding between them for weeks.

Salus gives excuses for being at the docks while Aneti reads a historical novel. Then, Salus is told by ler boss to research Code 1830-229-17.

Salus goes to the docks and has a very awkward dinner with a few family members and the woman ler family wants to match lim with.

Aneti sends Salus a text message by accident — a rookie move that could give Liga some of the access le needs.

Salus, back in the archives, discovers documents and materials that are perspective-changing — along with an old photograph of smiling people at a party. In that photograph, a woman sits. The camera glints off of ler elaborate locked hairstyle and braided headdress. Le holds a spoon in ler mouth, caught in the middle of eating …

Aneti rushes up to the rooftop in seclusion just as Salus is coming into work, and Salus decides to follow. Meanwhile, the satellite home is strained. Salus' cousin Gyetsuk keeps inviting the nuamė-not-nuamė Deisurås to eat breakfast, and no one — Salus especially — is amused by these breakfast visitations.

Salus figures out one of the muffled sentences le overheard in Shiji and meets Karatau Meiyenesi, who claims to know Salus' grandmother very well. But Karatau Meiyenesi has red, nuamė-like eyes — just like Deisurås and Okiyot.

Aneti comes over to the apartment for dinner with Salus, and the latter learns that Aneti's sister died and receives no ancestor rites from that family. The more important revelation happens during sex.

Salus ruminates over what le uncovered in the library and its implications for ler family. So many things about Sehutañi don't add up — and Salus has been losing sleep. One thing Salus is sure of: Whatever le does, le wants it to mean something in the long run.

Salus visits the Galasu Knowledge Foundation and meets Deo, a reference librarian, to learn more about the Daybreak Movement.

Liga and Salus finally touch base about Salus' work — but Liga is withholding information. How can Salus trust someone who never says what le means directly?

Salus' family is ready to play matchmaker between lim and an upstart woman from the Canyons two years younger, Kitesrati. The secret of Aneti's seduction means that Salus cannot say that le is overwhelmed by courting two women at once. Meanwhile, at the office, everyone has convened to honor a major party member's retirement.

Salus and Aneti visit Aneti's matriarchal home, this time while both are sober — a rare chance to glimpse Aneti's private life. However, things are never that simple.