"The Lastling" All Chapter Summaries

Read the chapter-by-chapter summary of "The Lastling" by Philip Gross.

I also made this sheet for my class before the final examinations. This may come in use for ALL beaconites of Class 8 in Pakistan. Hope it helps you. Please also consult the books for important dialogues and sceneries etc. Don’t depend entirely on this sheet. It is only for concept.

 

Since 2017, the Lastling is no longer a part of the Beaconhouse curriculum.

Chapter 1 (The Girl in the Ice):

 The title of the chapter refers to the imaginary side of Paris’ mind. Paris and her uncle Franklin are at the departure lounge of an airport awaiting their flight, but it is delayed. The strength of Franklin’s personality is made apparent by the way he behaves and what Paris tells us about him. He is powerful as in self-control, and according to Paris he can solve anything. Paris thinks that only she and Uncle Franklin are the ones who are the most mature. He goes to a police officer and calmly explains everything. In the meantime, Paris is looking into a fountain and sees a reflection of herself. She sees how still and motionless the reflection is, as if she was a girl trapped in ice, and couldn’t speak, until someone got her out. This is shown as a sign that Paris is yet unsure of herself, and she needs realization by someone else in order to become more mature. Then Uncle Franklin comes and takes her with him.

Chapter 2 (The House of the Snows):

The setting changes and Shengo, an old monk, and his young disciple Tahr are introduced. It shows the other side of the world; the power of Uncle Franklin and Paris versus the simple living of Shengo and Tahr. The monks live a simple life on the hillside in the Himalayas praying and are visited by people searching for a blessing or advice. From this point we know that Shengo has decided that he and Tahr will be going on a journey. 'There is a life… on the edge’ Shengo says. Through this chapter and the next we explore the close relationship between the master and the boy. The young monk depicts the start of a new life; from childhood to maturity. At the start of his life, Tahr asks Shengo many questions, which eventually path his way towards his mature life. Shengo sometimes answers the questions, sometimes gives good advice instead. At the start of their journey, Shengo orders Tahr to untie the goats because he knows they will never return to the gompa again. They climb up the mountains and valleys towards the top, which was full of snow and was called the “House of the Snows” by Shengo. They find a small shelter and seek refuge for the night, as it is very cold.

Chapter 3 (Iron Dragonfly):

The title refers to the helicopter that Tahr vaguely remembers. The journey undertaken by Tahr and Shengo continues. The chapter continues to explore the relationship between the two. They are both still in the shelter, and it is night-time. Tahr asks Shengo to tell him about the Mountain Spirits or yeh-teh who roam the mountains. Shengo replies by telling him that they are calm and sentient beings, they do not harm humans. Then Shengo tells him a very big secret he had kept all his life. He says he wants to tell Tahr before he dies, which means he knows he will die on this journey. He tells Tahr that he hadn’t grown up to be a monk, he had once been in the army of HM (His Majesty). His name “Shengo” meant sergeant. Tahr is excited after hearing the story and thinks about the Wheel of Life, where there were Gods and Titans, Hungry Ghosts and more beings, all depicting the people on Earth and their different personalities. The next morning they continue their journey. They travel through mountains, valleys and forests. Suddenly they are intercepted (disturbed) by a helicopter. Tahr suddenly gets a panic attack. Shengo explains to him after he cools down. We find out Tahr’s story. The chapter ends with a dramatic climax when Tahr sees something in the bushes and causes Shengo to lose his footing while crossing a waterfall, and dies.

Chapter 4 (Paris on Location):

Paris has reached the Himalayas with her uncle and some famous and rich celebrities in an expedition. The expedition members were as following (excluding Paris and Franklin):

• Donald from London
• Renaud from Paris
• Harriet from Central Africe
• Gavin from the Karakoram
• Shikarri (and his dog) from the local area
• the porters from the local area

She tagged along because Franklin had insisted her father to let her go with him. Paris was delighted but she didn’t show it because she wanted to be mature. There is more about Paris’ and Franklin’s personalities. It was October and Paris had no idea why they were here, but she agreed to come because she adored Franklin and wanted to be one of his ideal characters. Everything about the trip had been suspicious, as if Franklin and his expedition didn’t want anyone to know they were here. Paris just wants to make a movie of her trip. She is thinking about this when suddenly Tahr appears out of the bushes. He is frightened and need help. Shikarri tries to kill him as an imposter but Paris stops him. They all move inside the tent where a discussion takes place between the expedition members.

Chapter 5 (The Other Side of Somewhere):

The title refers to Tahr’s feelings as he wants to go anywhere else but in the expedition. Also 'The Other Side of Somewhere' is a reference to the meditation done by Tahr and the other side where he had gone during the meditation. There is a discussion in the tent. At first Tahr doesn’t understand but later he talks in English and tells everyone about Shengo and how he died. He says that Shengo was his master. No one believes him as monks didn’t live in that particular area and Tahr was far from his home. They suspect him a spy because he spoke English and was in restricted area. They decide not to let him go as now he knows about the expedition and will tell others. It was meant to be secret. Paris decides to take responsibility of Tahr just to impress Franklin. She says she will interrogate him and he will help her find her way in the jungle. Paris gives him his own tent and Tahr goes to meditate on a rock. Paris watches him from far away and when she comes close she realizes he is crying. She comforts him and he tells her about Shengo.

Chapter 6 (Gods and Titans):

Tahr recalls what had happened to him the other day; how he had lost Shengo and how he had reached here. He knows that the Wheel of Life is turning and it is his turn to experience everything, and that Shengo has now just remained a memory for him to help him on his way. Then he remembers what Shengo had said about meeting Gods and Titans. Maybe these people were also gods and titans as they were lucky, rich, powerful and blessed. Then he thinks about Paris. He had never met a more stubborn and weird girl than her, with her loud voice and man-like clothes. Maybe the gods did things like this? Sometimes Paris enjoyed being with him and sometimes she ignored him. Then Paris takes him to the edge of the clearing and shows him the rebels of the area fighting the government. He hears the helicopter and sees the smoke and gunfire and gets another panic attack. Paris soothes him and suddenly Franklin approaches them and gets angry. They have a discussion and Franklin forgives her as he says they are the “same species”. Then Paris remembers how different she and Franklin had been from other people. Then he turns to Tahr and speaks to him in a kind way. But Tahr feels threatened. Franklin invites Paris for hunting and they leave Tahr behind. Paris tells him more about the expedition then leaves. He is left alone. He thinks about running away but realizes that if he goes Paris will be sad. Then Donald approaches him and asks him about food. Tahr thinks that Donald is a Hungry Ghost (as seen on the Wheel of Life).

Chapter 7 (The Ultimate Diners Club):

The expedition team is hiking in the forest for hunting. Gavin and Harriet as usual are arguing. Harriet is training Paris how to use a rifle. Paris cracks a shot for the first time under the supervision of Harriet, aiming at pigeon and hunts it. Almost the day had passes and the team hasn't hunted anything. It was about to return back to the camp site that Paris hears shots cracking back to back quickly. A troop of dark monkeys passes over their heads into the tree branches and Gavin and Harriet are cracking shots after them. One of the monkeys gets hurt and falls. It was hung on the pole. On the other hand Franklin and Shikarri come with their prey in the bags. It was something very special according to Franklin. Along with the monkey, pigeon and that special prey, the team returns to the camp site. Everyone gets well dressed to celebrate their victory and a very expensive dinner set is brought out. The best wine and utensils are put out. The wine is poured into crystal glasses. The Ultimate Diners Club had met. From that moment Paris learns that the Ultimate Diners Club meets every year to dine on exquisite and endangered species, just for the fun of living illegally. Renaud roasts the pigeon and serves monkey meat to everyone.  Paris knows that it is against the animal rights to kill endangered species just for pleasure and her Uncle Franklin had done violation and committed a crime. This was the adventurous aim of Uncle Franklin enveloped in crime. Then Franklin introduces the special prey as the very last of the pink headed ducks or “Rhodonessa caryophyllacea”. It was a species thought to be extinct and they had killed the last of it. Everyone enjoyed the every last morsel of the birds' meat except Paris who reluctantly tasted the meat as she was emphatically asked to taste by Franklin. Tahr got himself busy along with porters and didn't join the diners’ celebration.

Chapter 8 (Lights-Out):

Tahr is busy out there in Renaud's kitchen camp assisting him in packaging precious crockery. Renaud was frequently warning him to be careful in handling the glass crockery. The dinner celebration is over. The forest is pitch dark and everyone goes to sleep. Tahr after finishing his task, he takes his way to his camp. Paris calls Tahr. He saw she was sitting cross-legged in the entrance of her tent. She forces him to sit beside her and asks him what he was thinking about her eating the meat. Tahr says nothing but he gets the point that she is drunk. She expresses all her concealed thoughts about the celebration. She says to Tahr that the monks live their lives in peace by themselves but it couldn't deny the reality that humans are the killer species who kill innocent animals and violate their rights. Her overwhelming emotions welled up her eyes and she expressed her embarrassment by being outrageous (extremely angry). She is embarrassed to taste the pink-headed ducks which deserved to be preserved. She is embarrassed to be called as Homo sapiens.
Tahr tries to relax her by chanting. Paris feels better and apologizes Tahr for being outspoken to him. Tahr told her that he would run away. Paris feared to lose a companion and she asks Tahr to promise that he wouldn't go anywhere. Tahr goes and tries to sleep but he can't. He thinks about the face of a mountain spirit Yeh-teh.....he recalls what Shengo had told him about mountain spirits....suddenly the flap door parted and Paris entered and asked him what had happened. Tahr told her about yeh-teh. She tells Tahr that she knew about them as Big Foot but that was just a superstition. Tahr tells her that they really existed and were a sentient beings like them living in families and he had seen a face of little Yeti. Paris believes him and get interested in the yeh-teh.  

Chapter 9 (Mornings After):

The next morning Paris wakes up and sees her uncle and other team members having breakfast. She goes and asks him what they were planning to do then. Expedition was over and now she wanted to leave for home. They decide to observe the land without Paris and Tahr. As Paris hears this she feels insecure and reveals Tahr's secret about yeh-teh (Yetis). Franklin and all the others get keenly interested in what Paris had said. Franklin orders Shikarri to investigate Tahr and get all details about yeti and then the expedition team set out for a new adventure. Paris could see a glint of pain in Tahr's eyes as she had broken his trust. She didn't believe in existence of mountain spirits but just wanted to impress Franklin. Tahr says his master had never lied. She justifies that she actually wants to find Shengo. Tahr was quiet and doesn't say anything. He is asked to lead the team towards where yeh-teh had appeared and Tahr leads them to the place where he had lost his master. He shows them the place where face had appeared in bushes. To Tahr's surprise the log that had fallen along with Shengo into the river was replaced at the river crossing by someone. Gavin was investigating the place meticulously. The team thought of primitive apes or chimpanzees who would be living around there as they have the sense of using tools like humans. Tahr is thinking of mountain spirits and Shengo. Franklin at time had an earnest desire to meet yeh-teh and know details about them.

Chapter 10 (Bloody Eden):

Expedition team was looking for yeh-teh near the waterfall. It was a long time and Paris is deadly tired and sees that Tahr was silent and not talking to her. She thinks he is angry of her because she told the secret. Gavin found a big foot mark in scuffed (scratched) mud and all of them went downhill. They see a beautiful turquoise blue river and it was like heaven on the earth (Garden of Eden, like the chapter title). All of them keep going downhill. When they approach a flat stone, they find a creature with red-brown fur on its entire body. On the other side of the river two yetis are cooking something. Harriet shouts and points towards them and disturbs them. Everyone drifts back but Tahr keeps moving ahead as he had seen the dead body of Shengo. Paris follows Tahr and sees that Shengo's dead body was wrapped in monk's robe. Both arms are neatly folded on his chest. Smears are made on the hands and feet. There is red mud splashed everywhere. It seems as if yeh-teh were performing last ritual ceremony on dead body. Gavin and Harriet thought that spirits had killed someone for purpose so they start cracking shots at them. Tahr is speechless to see his master lifeless but Paris tries to stop them and yells not to shoot as they didn't kill Shengo. The big yeh-teh gets hurt and falls into the river while the little yeh-teh is captured by the expedition team. Harriet and Gavin clumsily drag it and Franklin is excited to know about the creature. Thus the "Garden of Eden" is turned into a bloodbath. The yeh-teh is then taken at camp site and imprisoned in store tent.

Chapter 11 (It):

The title refers to the question in the minds of everyone: What is this creature we have captured? The expedition team is perplexed about the yeh-teh and the members are asking different questions about it as they are getting desperate to know about the facts of their imprisoned creature who has been blind folded and gagged and tied as per the security measures.

·         Was yeh-teh male or female?

·         Should yeh-teh be sold or donated to London zoo?

·         Was yeh-teh harmful or harmless?

·         Was yeh-teh of Homo sapiens specie or it was an animal?

·         Was it even a different specie or was it just a deformed child?

·         Was it a great ape?

·         How it would be to taste it?

·         Were they rare or they are more?

·         Did it have a name or a scientific name?

They conclude that the yeh-teh was a female because she wore a scarf and clothes and that the species was not animal but Homo sapiens neanderthalensis. It is also a young child. They decide to interrogate her and find out more information. At night the yeh-teh cried at high pitch inside the store-tent. Tahr understood that it was in trouble and he was the one who was responsible for all this trouble. Tahr blamed himself for all this and felt sorry for yeh-teh. Tahr got a chance to run away but he didn't run. How could he leave the poor yeh-teh on the mercy of those cruel people who were so mean that they could do any harm for the sake of their pleasure? Tahr thought yeh-teh were so kind that they gave Shengo a final death ritual to calm his soul and he got yeh-teh captured. How rude and mean! Renaud approaches Tahr as he is scared. Tahr asked Renaud to let him go in store tent where yeh-teh was imprisoned. Renaud asked him the reason which he told that yeh-teh would be hungry or thirsty. He could make yeh-teh calm down and relax. Tahr tried hard but no one let him go so he became quiet and waited for everyone to sleep.

Chapter 12 (A Cave of Eyes):

The title of the chapter refers to the dark cave of the yeh-teh’s eyes, looking through them Tahr could see what was going on in her mind (self-control). When everyone slept Tahr went into the store tent. One guard was vigilant and watching over yeh-teh. Tahr made a humble request to him and sat on the floor. His mind recalled what Shengo used to say about those sentient beings: The noblest of all creatures, tough, graceful and free, living where nobody could i.e. snowy mountains and were noble-quiet lords of the mountains with massive built and power. What Tahr saw as a reality didn't go with words of Shengo. Tahr was perplexed that either his master lied or his eyes are concealing the truth. He kept looking at the yeti who was tied to the tent's pole and was endeavoring hard to get herself free. But he knew these were only feelings and he had to let them go. Tahr observed that his thoughts had power. He chanted to soothe down the yeti. As he started thinking of her and felt pity on her she settled down and relaxed. She was blindfolded so couldn't see him. She could only listen him but he wasn't expressing his thoughts aloud. Tahr realized they had achieved a connection between minds called the Power of Mind. She was worried about her mother as she was hurt and wanted to go home. Tahr knew this his thoughts were providing comfort to her. Tahr started chanting spiritual words and yeh-teh was completely relaxed. Yeti rose her head to see him but she couldn't see him. She wanted that Tahr take off her blindfold.  Tahr saw by that time guard was asleep. He approached the yeti. He first gave her blue (tunic) to her which he picked up where she was captured. She took the cape and reflected innocence and didn't panic. He unfolded her blindfold. Tahr looked into the deep amber colored eyes of yeti. There was a depth of sadness in her eyes. She was worried about her mother. She recognized him as the boy who had caused all this, but she forgave him. Tahr recognized her as the face he had seen in the bushes which made Shengo die.

Chapter 13 (What’s Unspoken):

The title refers to the yeh-teh that it cannot speak. The chapter starts with the personality of Franklin as an “unsettling man” and a person who is always “passing through”. Franklin calls Paris so she can join them to interrogate the yeh-teh for valuable information through physical or mental torture. But Harriet disagrees, as she believes that the yeh-tehs can’t talk. When they reach the tent, Paris holds back because of the smell and leaves to join Tahr. Tahr tells Paris about what had happened the other night, how he had communicated with the yeh-teh. Paris blames herself for bringing the yeh-teh and seeks forgiveness from Tahr. She says that she just wanted to impress Franklin. Tahr forgives her by saying “No blame”. Franklin approaches Tahr and tells him to talk to the creature and feed it and keep it alive, because Franklin wants to do research on it, find out what is going on in its head, its structure etc. Franklin asks Tahr if the yeh-tehs are rare/endangered and he replies with a lie. He says there are many so that Franklin loses his interest in the creature or gets afraid. He then remembers what he had seen in the yeh-teh’s eyes and he is more determined to set it free. He and Paris go into the store-tent. Paris gives the yeh-teh water to drink and looks into her eyes. They are both frightened. Tahr soothes them down and tells Paris to look into the yeh-teh’s eyes. Paris realizes that the yeh-teh was also a living being and it was wrong to capture her. She tries to be the yeh-teh’s friend. Paris asks Tahr what she could do to help the yeh-teh. Tahr suggests that she help him set the yeh-teh free.

Chapter 14 (Into the Dark):

The title of the chapter refers to Tahr and the yeh-teh running away. Tahr is allowed in the store-tent to feed the yeh-teh. He has hidden a meat knife, stolen from Renaud’s kitchen, up his sleeve. Paris is allowed to patrol (take guard duty) outside on behalf of Uncle Franklin, along with other guards. Paris and Tahr are acting according to a plan they made to help set free the yeh-teh. Timing would have to be at its best for the plan to work. The yeh-teh had been cleaned and Tahr acts as if he is feeding her. All the guards are on high alert, but are patrolling outside the tent. The two were alone. Tahr tries to tell the yeh-teh that he has a knife and he is going to free her. According to plan, Paris starts to shoot randomly, to divert the attention of everyone, and Tahr takes advantage of the chaos and panic. He hurriedly cuts the ropes the bind the yeh-teh and she stumbles around, confused. Tahr thinks she is going to attack him but instead she picks Tahr up and escapes through the back of the store-tent. The guard at the door hears everything and runs from the outside if the tent. He tries to attack Tahr but the yeh-teh hits him hard and he falls. The yeh-teh pulls Tahr up and they run into the jungle as shots are fired at them and the mastiff (dog) is let loose. They climb up a cliff and rest in a ledge between two rocks.

Chapter 15 (Survivors):

 Tahr has a bad dream about losing his master. When he opened his eyes he sees a very beautiful morning. Tahr looked around. He couldn’t see the yeh-teh anywhere. He becomes sad but is happy since she is a wild creature and would want to return to the wilderness.  Tahr gets up to his feet and hears a singing note and turns to look around to see where the voice was coming. To his surprise he saw yeh-teh perched uphill. He waves his hands towards her. She looks at Tahr and smiles. He climbs uphill and sees that she had arranged some edible shrubs, berries and roots for the breakfast. He thanks his caring friend. Both have their breakfast. While they were doing their breakfast Tahr thought that did people have breakfast with those mountain spirits? Did ever Shengo did so? Tahr is thinking that who must this creature be. Tahr and yeh-teh were having communication but still they were unaware of each other’s names. He tells the yeh-teh that his name is Tahr. She starts laughing, as she thinks it is funny to be named after something so different. “Tahr” meant wild mountain goat or sheep. When he asks the yeh-teh her name, she is puzzled. She realizes that a name describes your personality, so she mimed so that Tahr could see a patch of snow which had survived all the winters, “snow-surviving” or “Geng-sun”. Tahr could read her mind that she was the only one left and her mother would be worried about her. Geng-sun held his hands and pointed towards her valley that was beyond the campsite. Tahr saw that wherever humans went they destroyed everything. He relaxed Geng-sun and assured her that they would go to her mother.

Chapter 16 (Idees Fixes):

The title of the chapter refers to the French words which describe an idea that dominates one's mind especially for a prolonged period or an obsession. This chapter explains about what idees fixes the characters had at that moment when Tahr and Geng Sun had run away. Paris has idees fixes in her mind that she would definitely be punished for creating a panic. Everyone came back and sat in one of the camps arguing with each other but what? That is what Paris is thinking because she was asked to stay outside. Her idees fixes made her confused. She goes in her tent when Renaud comes in an angry mood and rumbles about Franklin that he thought of himself as a monsieur (a man of high rank who wants everyone to follow him). He says to Paris that her uncle has an idees fixe that he needed what he wanted and he wanted to fetch that creature back. Harriet had an idees fixe that they humans had done already so bad with them and they should let her go. Gavin wanted to go because his idees fixe was that he hated the mountains as he had lost his three fingers traveling in those mountains. Renaud says that and leaves for his kitchen. Paris goes outside and she sees Franklin. Franklin was angry but he is still clam as he says he will follow the yeh-teh and track down all her family. He tells Paris that she should help them in finding Tahr and yeti as that monk had broken Franklin's trust. Franklin, Gavin and Shikarri go in search of the yeh-teh. Donald, Harriet and Renaud stayed back as they refused to go with them. On the other hand Tahr and Geng-sun continue their journey and reach a village where there were small stone huts. Both of them scavenge some food and they see that the village had been destroyed by rebels. The smell of burning and the memory of his old burnt village cause him to get another panic attack. He remembers more about what had happened to his home.

Chapter 17 (Don’t Look Back):

The chapter starts with Tahr unconscious due to his panic attack. He feels someone soothing him and thinks....My Mother! When he sees Geng Sun rubbing him and singing her mother-song he feels sad and thinks of his mother. Why did she leave him? Why was he deprived of the warmth of his mother's lap? These were the unanswered questions of his life. On the other hand when he sees yeti worried for her mom he calms her by saying that he would help her in finding the big kind yeti, but he didn't find the miming gesture for “mother” because of the conflict about the word mother he was always reluctant to utter(speak) the word mother. He tells Geng-sun that they would have to escape far away so they needed to run as fast as they could. Geng Sun wants to go the waterfall where her home was located but Tahr says that it would be risky as to reach yeti's valley they needed to go through the camp site where they would get captured. Tahr and Geng-sun run as fast as they could. They reach a beach where Geng Sun stays for a while as she can sense that the team from the camp had passed there. Tahr moves further where he gets captured by rebellions who speak Tahr's language i.e. Paali. They investigate him but he doesn't tell them about Geng Sun as he doesn't want her to get in trouble again. Tahr is taken into one of the deepest caves by the three rebellions who are Darwa, Gurung and VJ.

Chapter 18 (A Cage of Roots):

Tahr is tied to the ropes and Gurung is ordered to keep an eye on him. Darwa and VJ along with other rebellions leave the cave. Tahr observes that those people were very sharp and had killed so many people living in the native village. Rebels were fully armed and had lots of weapons. Gurung offers Tahr to join them and be a rebellion. In response to that Tahr tells him that he is a Buddhist monk and wasn't born to kill people who were innocent. Gurung and Tahr's argument went on and suddenly there was a noise of cracking shots. After a while Tahr saw that rebellions had captured Paris too. Expedition team had trekked the footprints of Tahr and had had an encounter with rebellions. They had a fight. Gavin and Shikarri are killed, but Franklin has a narrow escape. Paris gets captured. When Tahr sees Paris he is happy that his friend is alive, but he is also sad to see Paris in trouble. Paris sighs when she sees Tahr alive. She resists but is kept quiet at gun-point. Paris and Tahr communicate in English and she tells Tahr what had happened outside. Tahr acts as if he doesn’t know her so the rebels don’t take him as a traitor. Suddenly a shadow appears at the entrance of the cave who attacks at Gurung and makes him unconscious. It was Geng-sun! She cuts the ropes of Tahr and Paris and sets them free.

Chapter 19 (No Way But Up):

Tahr asks Geng Sun where she had come from and she jumps up with excitement and points upwards to the cave to go out. Paris and Tahr get scared but this makes yeti feel angry and she roars and starts to climb and thus Paris and Tahr are compelled to follow her. Geng Sun helps them to climb up towards the edge. She tied a rope around Paris waist and held its other end in her hand and starts climbing swiftly. Behind them was Tahr. After a long hard struggle with wounded and bruised bodies Tahr and Paris reach the edge. Geng Sun is also there with them. Tahr looks at Paris who was badly hurt. Tahr makes gestures to thank her and Paris tries to imitate the gestures of Tahr. She wants to show Geng Sun that she is also her friend. Geng Sun smiles at her and then runs away towards her valley. The edge provided complete vision of the forest to the two friends and they could see the campsite. Paris steps down towards campsite and Tahr follows her. When they reach the campsite both are flabbergasted (shocked till death). All their hopes wane. Everything is messed up. Donald, Renaud and Harriet are on the Ultimate Diners Club table and are dead. Franklin is also there. The crockery is messed up and gun shots had damaged the camps. Everything had been ransacked. Paris is shocked. She can't utter a single word. Her eyes well up with tears. She looks at Uncle Franklin and suddenly he moves.

Chapter 20 (The View from the Edge):

The title of the chapter refers to the main idea of the book, the edge of everything; the edge of insanity (Franklin), the edge of extinction (Geng-sun) and the edge of maturity (Paris and Tahr). Paris gets a bit of satisfaction when she sees her uncle but the very next moment it vanishes away. Franklin has gone insane and is talking at random. He says that everyone had been killed and he and Paris would be killed too; they are the last adventurous Homo sapiens who would die soon. Paris screamed and yelled to bring her uncle in his senses. Franklin says that he has implanted his ideas in Paris and now he would live forever in Paris’ mind and that she was his heir. She remembers of her family and leaves Franklin to run. When they reach back to the edge Paris cries and accuses Tahr of everything they are encountering, but then she realizes that Franklin had always crazy. She doesn't want to be like her uncle anymore. She starts to hate her uncle. Paris and Tahr step down and found yeti was perched on the rock. They hear the mastiff approaching but see that it has been badly injured and is looking for its master, Shikarri, who is hanging from a tree with a “TRAITOR” sign around his neck. They notice that a candle flame in the campsite has gone out, meaning that Franklin has left. Paris and Tahr follow Geng-sun towards her home.

Chapter 21 (Mother-Song):

Geng Sun moves fast and quietly. She finds her home and points down towards the cave (her home). Paris is reluctant (unwilling) to follow her but Tahr convinces her by saying that they had to trust her because she was familiar of the forest and could lead them to the safe place. Paris agrees and then Yeti takes them near the entrance of one of the caves. When Tahr and Paris led by Geng Sun enter the cave, they see that there is a tiny village inside the cave for the yeh-teh. Geng Sun goes towards one direction. They follow her. Geng Sun stops and makes anxious little cry. Tahr and Paris are surprised to see the big yeti lying beside the big rock. It was mother of Geng-sun. She had been badly hurt and is curled on the floor, dying. Geng Sun runs into the forest among sparse (thinly scattered) trees. Tahr and Paris observe that the cave was like the hall- higher and deeper than any building. Tahr thinks of gompa, Shengo had once told him that mountain spirits build their gompas. At times Tahr couldn't get the true picture of gompa but now he got everything. Paris and Tahr's eyes were wide opened. After a while Geng Sun comes with a bowl of water and starts washing her mother's face. Tahr fetches some wood to light the fire and Paris takes the bucket to bring more water and helps Geng Sun. The wound on mother's leg had festered (worsen). After the light is lit they both sit cross-legged beside Geng Sun who is looking at her mother and singing a sweet sad song, maybe to tell her mother how much she liked her and how much she missed her! Mother yeti succumbed (because of the worsening of wounds) to death. Geng Sun kept looking into her mother's eyes but she was dead.  Paris saw for the first time someone dying before her eyes. She stays quiet as she doesn’t know what to say. Tahr meditates for the peace of her mother's soul.

Chapter 22 (A Slingshot at an Eagle):

Paris is deadly tired so she sleeps unintentionally. When she wakes up she sees that Geng-sun is arranging fire sticks around her mother's dead body and is giving final ritual to her. Tahr is standing at the entrance of the cave and hears some noises of the helicopter. He rushes inside and warns Paris about the rebellions and “tear gas”. Outside the government helicopter are searching for them as Geng Sun had lit a fire for the ritual and it was attracting the attention of them. They try to stop her but Geng Sun couldn't compromise with her ritual ceremony and she was doing all this to give peace to her mother's soul. She becomes angry and pushes them aside and lights the fire.
Smoke raises and now the government helicopter surrounded the cave. They are in danger. The gunman on the helicopter starts to crack shots at them. Geng Sun climbs to the top of the edge from the cave and uses her strength. She starts to throw heavy massive rocks like the slingshots at the helicopter. They crack shots at yeti but she is courageous enough to face them. Massive rocks hit them and their helicopters crashes and bursts into fire. Tahr and Paris come out of the cave and climb towards the edge where they come to know that Geng Sun's leg has been hurt by bullets. Tahr and Paris dress up her wound. Geng Sun through miming tells Tahr about the FORTRESS OF ICE; the place where yetis rule and live; the place made up of ice and snow; where no human can reach, up in the top of the Himalayas. Tahr and Paris both decide to go with her because she is hurt and needs their help to reach her Fortress Of Ice. Her injured leg disables her from swift movements and she needs their cooperation.

Chapter 23 (A Tongue of Ice):

The chilled air is stinging but the three souls brave to move towards the skyline where there was the highest edge and then from there they have to move towards the Ice Fortress. They travel long and hard and each time when Paris and Tahr look at Geng Sun she would say that it was too far. The journey seemed to be never ending. Fortress Of Ice is appearing to be a mystery! They notice that someone is following them and they hurry on. Finally the three reach a place where there is a large glacier (tongue of ice) which is slippery. They decide to go around it. When they reach a small bridge on the side the see Franklin standing there! He had been following them all the way! Paris called her uncle to tell the mystery of the fortress but Tahr stopped her. Franklin knew he had wanted wrong all his life and now he knows it is time for his end, and he wants to take Paris with him. He was acting crazily and was laughing loudly and madly but his laughter didn't last long. Suddenly the snow bridge falls down and Franklin along with his laughter gets buried in the snow. Paris feels bad but is also happy that is was over for Franklin. They cross the lake with great difficulty. Tahr and Paris look at Geng Sun. She gestures that they had to carry on and not stop. She is excited. They carry on with their journey. Paris is deadly tired and her muscles are aching (paining). Geng Sun could feel that but she is forcing them not to stop. Finally after a tiring journey they see three mountains facing each other at certain angle. Geng Sun jumps in excitement. She points there and gestures that behind the mountain is her fortress. She takes swift steps and goes out of sight within minutes.  Tahr and Paris perch on the rock. After a while they see that Geng Sun is back. She is upset. She gestures that her fortress is not there. They are astonished! Geng-sun realizes that what her mother had meant as a “safe” place for her was to keep her away from the life at the bottom of the mountain as she was the last of her kind and the mother yeti wanted Geng-sun to live in peace as a sentient being.

Chapter 24 (The Fastness):

The title of the chapter refers to how fast life can pass by, but in the end we have to leave what we love most. Tahr asks Geng Sun to come with him and live with him in his gompa because he was also alone in the world but Geng Sun hugs both of them like a good friend, then wraps her arms around them, as she was with them for the last time, because she is the last of her species. Suddenly she drives them away, she reacts harshly, she shouts at them and looms at them. Tahr and Paris couldn't understand why she had changed herself, but later they realize she wanted them to go on and live own lives, forget about her, as there is no way to save her now. They run as fast as they can and finally reach a valley and enter into one of the huts. It is shepherd's hut. They request him to let them stay there. He keeps them there as they are sick and weak. He cares for them. After four to five days when they get better Tahr and Paris after ages take a breath of relief as the never ending journey ends. They look at each other. They are grown up by now. Tahr decides to send Paris back to her family and shepherd tells him that he would take her to the trekkers (mountaineers) who would take her to the airport. Finally the day arrives when Paris has to leave. The two souls were now more than friends. They love each other but Paris has to go. She has to say good-bye to her sincere friend. She asks him to come along with her to America but Tahr loves his valleys, mountains and rivers. He loved Paris too but little more than that he loved his native land. Paris is sent back and Tahr stays back. Then they break apart as to find more opportunities and that they have finally experienced/seen life in it's true form other than what they both had seen before.