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Chapter 31 begins with a confused Wanderer. She isn’t sure who Walter is addressing, but then Jamie tells her that Gladys was his wife who wasn’t able to escape from the souls. Walter begins to think out loud, while Ian urges Wanderer to pretend she is Gladys for Walter’s sake, as he has cancer and is delusional from the pain and the medication. Wanderer makes plans to stay the night beside Walter in the hospital, while Ian and Jamie retire to the rooms.
In the morning, Walter recognizes Wanderer, but he soon returns to thinking she is Gladys. Wanderer pretends to be his wife in order to soothe his pain. Meanwhile, Brandt storms into the hospital, announcing that the Seeker is back and surveying the area by helicopter. Brandt wants to tie Wanderer up with the opinion that she might try to contact the Seeker, but Ian and Doc will not allow it. Although the humans ready themselves in case they have to leave the caves, Jeb has told them that it’s not likely they’ll have to leave. As the helicopter looms over them, all the humans can do is sit tight.
Wanderer describes the rest of the day as “the worst of [her] life on this planet.” Along with the helicopter, she also is forced to endure Brandt watching her and Walter’s cries of pain. Doc, too, has a difficult time with Walter’s pain and Wanderer realizes how truly strong his compassion is and despite his earlier actions with her species, she doesn’t think she will ever mistrust him again.
The Seeker finally stops her search (at least for the night), and when Jared returns, he brings morphine for Walter. At first Doc means to use it to help Walter regain his strength and quell his illness, but then Jared implicates that the morphine can be used to permanently stop Walter’s pain. Wanderer isn’t sure what Jared means, but then Melanie informs her that they mean to will Walter in order to save him from any more suffering. Wanderer is appalled and upset over this as she’s never had a human friend of hers die. Doc tells Wanderer that she should take a break from being in the hospital. He assures her that Walter will still be there when she gets back. She believes him and leaves, but not before glancing at Jared.
