Summary

Chapter 17 begins with the Commandant summoning Red “to a field office” near a “Russian [battle]front” (132). Some explanation is given as to how Commandant manifests – she exists as a “disembodied mind” (132), only taking form “when she must” (133). This time, she takes the form of a “big woman in an army uniform” that Red meets (134). She tells Red that the enemy’s “new braid is weak” and that they can “unpick it” (135). Then, she shows her a picture of Blue, asking if she knows her. Red says she recognizes her from a battle, and Commandant says she “triggered the cascade and set it” (136). Then, Commandant turns over the picture to show a map of Red’s own travels compared to Blue’s. Commandant suggests that Blue is “grooming” Red by following her (137). She tells Red that she is to reach out to Blue so...