Chapter 4 Summary

Ransom is temporarily overwhelmed with fear. He confirms with Weston that they are indeed in space, and demands to know why he has been kidnapped. He also asks how the ship works. Weston contemptuously explains that Ransom could not possible understand the physics behind how the ship works, and even if he could, he would not be told. Weston does say the ship is powered by solar radiation.

Weston tells Ransom they are on their way to the planet Malacandra. He hints that Malacandra is one of the other planets in our solar system, but will not tell Ransom which. Weston tells him Malacandra is inhabited, and that he has communicated with its inhabitants.

Again, Ransom demands to know why he has been kidnapped. Weston responds he is simply following orders. When Ransom asks whose orders Weston is carrying out, Weston abruptly ends...