The Mercy of Gods
by James S. A. Corey
Contents
Thirty-Five
Overview
The new Carryx librarian announces that humans will be redistributed across the moieties, their comfort tied strictly to usefulness, and their current group almost certainly split apart. Dafyd is designated the only permitted human channel to the librarian, responsible for relaying needs and enforcing discipline under threat of summary execution for violators.
Dafyd learns the prior librarian was killed not as “punishment,” but because it had been saved by an “animal,” which is incompatible with Carryx order. Watching Carryx warships rise, Dafyd resolves to wage a patient, internal war—learning the Carryx well enough to destroy them.
Summary
The new Carryx librarian addresses Dafyd and the surviving humans, congratulating them on their usefulness and warning that their people will be redistributed across the moieties. Until new duties begin, they must stay in their quarters, accept assignments without choice, and understand that access to resources will rise or fall with their perceived utility. The librarian also forbids humans from approaching other Carryx and frames human survival and expansion as a “protection” granted by Carryx control.
Jessyn asks whether the group will stay together, and the librarian says that is unlikely. It then singles out Dafyd: humans will no longer be permitted direct access to the librarian, and Dafyd will become the sole conduit. All human communication and needs must pass through Dafyd to the librarian, and Dafyd will be responsible for discipline; any human who approaches the librarian without Dafyd will be killed. Dafyd pushes back that he lacks information about where people are and what is expected, and the librarian says that information and directions will be provided, with Dafyd arranging their execution.
Dafyd asks why the previous librarian was killed, assuming it was punishment for Ostencour’s rebellion. The librarian rejects the idea of punishment and explains the old librarian was “honored” by being touched by the Sovran, but was disqualified because it had been saved by an “animal,” which has no place in the moieties. The librarian leaves, locking the survivors back into their shared confinement.
In the common room, Dafyd studies the diminished group—Campar, Tonner Freis, Jessyn, Jellit, Rickar—and feels the absence of the dead. As Carryx warships rise in the distance, Dafyd’s despair shifts into cold clarity: the Carryx are at war with an outside enemy, and Dafyd believes he can learn how the Carryx think well enough to exploit their assumptions and blind spots.
The others react with skepticism, and Jellit warns that Dafyd is starting to sound like Ostencour. Dafyd argues Ostencour was not wrong, only too impatient, and recognizes that the Carryx have effectively made him a “high priest” for humanity. While they are still together, Dafyd declares his intent to study the Carryx from within and find a way to kill them all and bring down their towers, claiming the war as his own.
Who Appears
- DafydMade sole human liaison to the librarian; begins a patient plan to destroy the Carryx.
- The new Carryx librarian (keeper-librarian)Announces human redistribution, forbids direct access, and appoints Dafyd as intermediary and enforcer.
- Tonner FreisSurvivor of the project team; listens as Dafyd forms a long-term resistance plan.
- JessynAsks whether the group will remain together; reacts to Dafyd’s escalating resolve.
- JellitSupports the group; cautions Dafyd that he sounds like Ostencour.
- RickarChallenges Dafyd’s talk of understanding the Carryx and questions Dafyd’s authority.
- CamparUses grim humor to frame their “victory” and responds to Dafyd’s new warlike purpose.
- OstencourReferenced as the earlier rebel; serves as a warning example for Dafyd’s strategy.
- ElseRemembered as a dead friend; her absence sharpens Dafyd’s determination.