Alice is found by Gradus and, to feed him, smokes strips of meat for him to inhale like incense. They discuss Dis and Gertrude’s citadel: Gradus helped build it, paced its gardens, and spent years on a cliff’s edge, tempted to end himself but unable to. He confesses his torment—existence offers only two bad choices, and he cannot explain why he keeps going. Alice offers only the hollow possibility of grace; Gradus rejects this and remains unsatisfied.

Turning to the present, Alice declares her intent to kill the Kripkes and deliberately leaves the cuckoo skull beacon active to draw them in. Gradus estimates they will avoid sailing and take time to arrive, giving Alice the night to prepare. For the first time since arriving, Alice feels clear purpose: she will become the hunter and make her death, if it comes, matter.

Gradus points her toward the river and suggests better protection. Alice dismembers the drained cat, crafting claw knuckle-gouges, femur daggers, and a ribcage cuirass, then builds a small shrine for the skull and wards it against erosion. Gradus urges her to hide in Dis and admits he doesn’t want her destroyed. Alice refuses, insisting life must be fought for or it isn’t life at all.

Gradus advises her to snort magick chalk. Alice does, enduring searing pain followed by a rush of heightened perception and power. Energized, she smashes the cuckoo skull, senses hostile attention turning toward her across the dunes, and screams a challenge, inviting the Kripkes to come for her.