Summary

Chapter 26 (First person, past tense, Bankson’s narration) Upon their arrival in Australia, Bankson finds civilization (clothes, food, capitalism, conversation, traffic) difficult adjust to. Fen, meanwhile, quickly cleans himself up and arranges for himself, Bankson, and Nell to be the guests at a dinner given in their honor by a prominent anthropologist (Claire Lynes). During the party, an at-ease Fen initiates conversations about the flute, garnering praise and information about opportunities to tell its story. At one point, in a moment of quiet, Nell weeps for what happened to Xambun and Bankson comforts her, asking her to return to the Kiona with him. She says she loves him which, he says, means she won’t.

After returning to their hotel, Nell goes to bed while Fen talks with Bankson in his (Fen’s) room. Bankson refuses the chance to see the flute, and...