Section 15 (pages 369-376) Summary

Snowman wakes before dawn and climbs down his tree. He heads out along the beach to find the other survivors. He sees shoeprints in the sand, smells smoke and hears voices. He sneaks up on the people and finds them sitting around a fire with their spraygun lying on the ground nearby. The two men and one woman look wasted. Snowman wonders how he should make contact. Should he say he comes in peace, offer them his nonexistent treasure or threaten them off his turf? He looks at his blank watch and thinks that it is zero hour, time to go.

Section 15 (pages 369-376) Analysis

The author ends the book on an ambiguous note. Will Snowman attempt to befriend the other humans, or will he find himself shooting them dead? Either ending seems plausible, for although Snowman clearly hungers...