Mortal Engines

While London moves on from the burning wreckage that MEDUSA left behind, Katherine hurries to the history museum through streets full of evidence from last night’s party, and the remnants of excitement feel wrong to her. She finds peace only in the museum’s “decent silence, as befitted the morning after the death of a whole city” (254). She goes to Pomeroy’s office, where she explains Crome’s plan to a shocked room full of Historians. Katherine urges them to speak out about how wrong the destruction is, but the Historians don’t think anyone really cares as long as London remains strong. They agree to protect Bevis as best they can, but point out that they’re “old, and frightened, and there really is nothing more that we can do” (260).

Aboard the Jenny Haniver, Tom, Hester, and Fang continue east toward the wall. They cross over what was once eastern Europe and into the Mountains of Heaven, where Tom is amazed at the snowcapped mountains and peaceful animals who live there. At the opposite end of the mountains, they pass over the wall, a barrier of metal and stone that Fang says is weaker than it looks.

On the other side, they land in Batmunkh Gompa, the City of Strength, a sprawling metropolis that’s carved into the rock of the mountains and more beautiful than Tom thought a static city could be. They meet with the governor, who is reluctant to accept that there’s any threat to the city. Fang urges the governor to send warships to bomb London, and Tom jumps up in a rage. He doesn’t want the innocent people in London to get hurt and argues that if the Anti-Traction League wanted to remain safe, they should have “put your cities on wheels long ago, like civilized people” (273). An argument ensues, and Tom leaves the chamber.

Outside, Tom regrets his outburst and heads down into the city to experience static life. As he wanders, he starts to understand the appeal of living in one place and appreciate the beauty of the city. He notices a red-robed monk who seems different than the others and follows the man until a passing girl stops him under a streetlamp. In the light, Tom recognizes Valentine.