Chapter 18

David, Petra, and Rosalind finally arrive at Zealand, and as they do so, their minds are engrossed in the stunningly different, modern technology in the Big City. On their arrival, they are registered into an opulent 5-star hotel featuring arcades, fancy buffets, spas, and  much more beyond their expectations. The new telepaths were also introduced to other members of the Sealand community and were able to use their telepathic powers freely. They finally felt that they had found a place where they could be comfortable and developed a sense of belonging and family. But there was one thing that the new telepaths hadn’t even imagined; a scheme behind all the pretty wrapping paper.

The luxurious and interesting features were decoys set out to preoccupy David and Rosalind, and were working very effectively. While David and Rosalind were engrossed in leisure, Ashley, the Sealand woman, took Petra into a clandestine lab where she, along with other accomplices, tested Petra’s DNA; afterwards, Petra’s memory was be erased. This occurred simultaneously until Petra’s mysterious disappearances became obvious to David and Rosalind. Sensing that something was wrong, they tried to extract information from Petra, but she couldn’t remember anything. One day, David and Rosalind wander down the halls of a new floor which they find by coincidence. The hall then leads them to the secret lab where they eavesdrop on Ashley’s plan, which remains a puzzle throughout the chapter, when all of a sudden, they are caught spying on the capitol.

 Fortunately, the man who had discovered them was Dnat, a kind and compassionate person who believed in the importance of multiple prospects. David and Rosalind learn that Dnat has different values and beliefs from Ashley although he is her right arm. He tells them about conservatism, and lack of free thought, and how the people who were not telepaths were looked down upon, even as to be treated inferior in the society of Sealand. Soon, the telepaths realize that Sealand wasn't a society of free thought as they had expected. As he explains, he also mentions a ludicrous logo called “No telepathy, No service.” David and Rosalind realize ironically, that Sea Land also had a “true image” which was exactly what they were trying to escape from.

Dnat quickly helps them escape from the hotel with a series of kerfuffles and complicated codes, he then guides them to his house basement, where they soon found themselves spewing ideas for a new, accepting, and diverse society. With the help of many other collaborators and Petra’s strong telepathic skills, Dnat, Rosalind, and David succeed in planting a new vision in peoples’ minds and they rebel against Ashley, the capitol. The capitol is easily taken down with the aid of the vast majority of the population. Dnat becomes voted as the next successor and rules the country effectively with the ideas of diversity and importance of free thought. The belief of one true image is abolished and many people from different regions came to Sealand to enjoy freedom. Later, David returns to Waknuk to take his grateful friend Michael, and Rachel. A few year later, David and Rosalind marry and have children that have very weak telepathy, which they don’t mind at all.

Motif : Reality Vs. Appearance