The next day, Ransom wakes to the realization that the Malacandrian creatures he feared the most are harmless. His only remaining fear is of the mysterious Oyarsa. As Ransom cannot safely make the journey to Meldilorn himself, Augray offers to carry him, remarking that the hrossa should not have sent Ransom into the harandra. If Ransom had died, the hrossa would have written a poem about it and thought it just as well as if he had lived. Feeling defensive on behalf of his newfound friends, Ransom praises their acceptance of death. Augray counters that while death is natural, it is also natural to avoid death when possible. He produces a portable oxygen tank, designed by the séroni and made by the pfifltriggi, and gives it to Ransom for the journey.

Ransom climbs onto Augray’s shoulders, and they set off toward Meldilorn. Despite the sorn’s inhuman gait, Ransom finds the journey enjoyable. Up on Augray’s shoulders, he is once again close to the heavens of space and experiences the associated feelings of bliss. He sees more of the cauliflower-shaped, rose-colored substance he first noticed at the lake, which turns out to be made of stone. Augray explains that the cauliflower formations are petrified forests, the remains of an extinct ecosystem.