Chandler

Rosalie Pan

Chandler and Rosalie Pan share a deep, emotionally charged romantic bond, often seeking comfort in each other amid the chaos.

The Girl

Chandler is obsessively drawn to The Girl, who represents a mysterious and manipulative force in his life.

Koitska

Chandler and Koitska are locked in a tense adversarial struggle, each vying for control and survival.

John Hsi

Chandler and John Hsi work together as colleagues in a high-stakes environment, bound by duty and shared objectives.

Peggy Flershem

Chandler and Peggy Flershem share a supportive friendship, often relying on each other for emotional and practical help.

The Judge

Chandler and The Judge are antagonists, with the Judge representing authoritarian opposition to Chandler's actions.

Ellen Braisted

Chandler and Ellen Braisted are acquaintances who interact within the broader social network of the story's community.

Orphalese

Chandler is fascinated and unsettled by Orphalese, whose enigmatic presence exerts a psychological pull on him.

Jack Souther

Chandler and Jack Souther are loyal friends who support each other through dangerous and uncertain times.

Guy

Chandler and Guy are steadfast friends and allies, working together to navigate shared challenges.

Tripler

Chandler and Tripler have a professional relationship, cooperating on tasks within their organizational structure.

Mrs. Porter

Chandler and Mrs. Porter are social acquaintances, interacting occasionally within their community.

I

The defendant on trial for rape and assault; he recalls his actions with detachment and pleads not guilty by reason of temporary pandemic insanity.

II

The protagonist on trial for rape, widowed after his wife Margot was murdered by Jack Souther. He struggles with his claim of possession and ultimately accepts a plea deal to avoid execution, only to be branded as a hoaxer.

III

Awakens in a freight car with a burned hand and a branded 'H' on his forehead; escapes after being attacked; seeks food and shelter; is led into the Orphalese meeting at gunpoint.

IV

Survives the burning of the Orphalese house, is possessed again briefly, then captured and bound on stage; decides to join the Orphalese.

V

Possessed and transported to Hawaii; finds brief respite when his possessor pauses over The Prophet.

VI

Chandler is the protagonist, whose body is possessed by an unknown exec. He is interrogated about Orphalese and assigned to build a square-wave generator.

VII

Arrives in Honolulu, visits Parts 'n Plenty, and witnesses the Monument of tortured individuals.

VIII

Starts constructing the radio installation; learns about the Execs' origin from Hsi; interacts with Rosalie Pan.

IX

Struggles with revulsion and attraction toward Rosalie; experiences being used as a communication relay; learns about exec society; is forcibly rejected and left weeping.

Chapter X

Witnesses the massacre, is saved by Rosalie Pan, flies Koitska to Hilo, attends the Society of Slaves meeting, and is possessed during the attack.

XI

Forced laborer on Hilo installation; discovers mass graves; saved by the girl's possession.

XII

Feels degraded as Rosalie's companion, resents being used as a proxy, and is given a coronet to experience possessing others.

XIII

Undergoes the exec membership vote process, experiences possession by Koitska, and survives a murder attempt.

XIV

Possesses a leper to destroy the Hilo installation, confronts Koitska, and uses the execs' own technology to plan their downfall.

XV

Exhausted after killing execs and slaves; holds the only working coronet; decides to keep it temporarily despite knowing he is lying to himself.