Out of the Silent Planet

In the morning, Ransom and Augray resume their journey toward Meldilorn. They descend from the harandra into a breathtakingly beautiful handramit that contains a large, sparkling lake. At the center of the lake is a pale red island topped with a grove of tree-like flowers “taller than a cathedral spire” (105). Ransom knows without asking that this is Meldilorn and is surprised to find it “so classic, so virginal” (105). Augray calls forth a ferry from the shore of Meldilorn. Ransom is pleased to see that the boat is paddled by a hross named Hrinha. Augray bids him farewell, and Ransom enters the boat. As Hrinha paddles toward Meldilorn, he explains that each species of hnau serve Oyarsa in the capacity in which they can be most useful, with hrossa naturally being assigned to boats.

The island of Meldilorn seems deserted except for a row of stone guesthouses. An arrangement of stones like “a much larger Stonehenge” (108) tops the island’s flowery grove. The air is full of the faint “silvery” sound of the multitude of eldila who inhabit Meldilorn. Ransom explores the island, eventually finding himself at the Stonehenge-like formations, which are decorated with intricate pictures. The pictures seem to tell stories—Ransom recognizes the figures of hrossa, séroni, pfifltriggi, and a wavy, vague-faced creature that he takes to be Oyarsa. One of the pictures depicts all of the hnau working together with Oyarsa to remake the earth after the cold wiped out life on the harandra. Another shows a scene that is at first confusing to Ransom—a circle segment, full of Malacandrian scenes, backed by a series of concentric rings. Each concentric ring contains a small depiction of an oyarsa-like figure. Ransom realizes that this picture is a representation of the solar system, and he is shocked when his eyes fall upon the etching of Earth: Where the oyarsa figure should be, there is a deep groove, as if something has been scratched out. By referencing the position of the planets, Ransom deduces that Malacandra is Mars.

His thoughts are interrupted by an incessant tapping sound. Looking up, he sees a hairless, long-snouted creature with many-fingered hands—undoubtedly a pfifltrigg. The pfifltrigg begins etching Ransom’s portrait into the surface of the stone. When it is done, Ransom is dismayed to find three human figures all portrayed as extremely odd-looking, but he realizes that, to a pfifltrigg, this picture is “an idealization of humanity” (113). The pfifltrigg speaks to Ransom in hrossian, introducing himself as Kanakaberaka. Ransom asks how the Kanakaberaka is able to communicate in hrossian—did the hrossa once rule on Malacandra? Puzzled, the Kanakaberaka responds that it is only natural for all hnau to learn the hrossa’s language, because as Malacandra’s great speakers, they have the largest and best vocabulary.

Kanakaberaka tells Ransom about the land of the pfifltriggi, which is rich with precious metals. The pfifltriggi love using gold and silver to create fantastic and beautiful works of art. Ransom cannot understand how the pfifltriggi divide the gold fairly. Kanakaberaka explains that all pfifltriggi work together to maintain the mines, and each takes only what’s needed for their work. Ransom tells Kanakaberaka that, on earth, people devote their whole lives to digging for gold, not out of love but because they are “given no food if they stop” (115). This confounds Kanakaberaka—isn’t there enough food for everyone on earth? Ransom admits that he, too, would like an answer to that question.

Ransom retires to one of the stone guesthouses on the shore. He finds it comfortable and well-decorated, having been built by pfifltriggi. Ransom’s increased physical comfort is contrasted by his psychological discomfort at being surrounded by every kind of Malacandrian hnau at once. Feeling overwhelmed, he goes to bed early. He is soon woken by the appearance of an eldil, who tells him that it is time to go to Oyarsa. Ransom knows instinctively that he must go up to the high grove. As he draws closer, he sees that the stone path up to the summit is lined with every type of Malacandrian creature. The summit itself is full of eldila, all assembled in one spot.

After a long time, Oyarsa appears in the grove. Oyarsa is made of pure light and moves “like all that is stillest and smallest and hardest to seize in nature” (117). In a sweet but “unhuman” voice, Oyarsa asks Ransom why he is afraid. Ransom answers honestly that he is afraid because he cannot see Oyarsa and because Oyarsa is so unlike him, but Oyarsa responds that they are both “copies of Maleldil” (119) and therefore not very different at all. He reveals that he is the one who sent the sorns and the hnakra to bring Ransom to Meldilorn, and he is disappointed that Ransom ignored his summons until Hyoi was killed. He also reveals that he sent eldila to watch Ransom as he journeyed with Weston and Devine in his ship. Ransom is confused as to how anything could survive in space, but Oyarsa tells him that space is the true home of the eldila, who can go anywhere and see anything. Only Earth is a mystery to them. Earth once had a bright and powerful oyarsa, but long before there was any life on the planet, he became bent. The Bent One smote Earth’s moon and set a murderous cold upon the harandra. A great celestial war ensued. Together with Maleldil, the other Oyarsa forced the Bent One out of the heavens and bound him to Earth’s atmosphere. Maleldil and the Bent One are now locked in a fierce battle for control over Earth.

After a moment of silence, Ransom admits that Earth is indeed very bent. He asks why Oyarsa called him to Meldilorn. Oyarsa explains that when Weston and Devine first arrived on Malacandra ten years ago, he sent sorns to bring them to Meldilorn so that they could meet him and explain their business. Weston and Devine, however, were hostile toward the sorns and afraid of Oyarsa, believing that he wanted to eat them. Oyarsa has two questions for Ransom: What are the humans seeking on Malacandra, and how is the war between Maleldil and the Bent One is progressing on Earth? Ransom answers that Devine only cares about Malacandrian gold, but Weston wants to kill the other hnau and colonize Malacandra with humans. He suggests that Oyarsa kill all three of them to prevent further destruction, but Oyarsa refuses, declaring that it is an evil thing to kill the hnau of another planet. They are interrupted by the arrival of a large party of hrossa on the shore, carrying something in their midst.