Chapter 11, The Arch of Heaven Summary

The flycycles are contoured to different shapes for the kzin, the puppeteer, and the humans. They can be set to automatically follow one of the cycles. The communications system shows holographic images of the other crewmembers in their cycles. Night has fallen, and the crew can see the ring walls far away and the arch of the Ringworld heading into space. Nessus goes catatonic from stress, and Speaker declares himself in command. The Liar has crashed approximately in the center of the ring, but Speaker makes a command decision to head to the port.

Louis tests his cycle, settling in for a month-long ride. He tastes the water and food and makes sure that nothing can fall off. The cycle is surrounded by a field of air pushing in. Teela and Speaker are sleeping, but...