This is a lengthy chapter narrated by Susie Yup, journalist friend of John Keane.
It records items she published in her newspaper, and also records meetings over the period of John Keane’s arrival at the University of Urmston.
She reports a breakout at a local Zoo believed to be a deliberate action by the University’s Animal Liberation activists.
It is followed with her account of the explosion at Meniscus which killed the Director Bryan Trescothick.
She decides to investigate through John Keane who worked for Trescothick, and her other contacts at the laboratories. Opportunities arise through their chess club which has members from both Meniscus and the the University.
She learns that Julian Callender, the main reason Keane left Meniscus, meets a porter from the laboratory who exchanges messages. When she confronts Keane he says they are stamps he collects for his Landlady’s son, Ryan Widebotham. He warns her against investigating Meniscus.
She ignores the advice and meets the leader of the student activists, Dando Llewelyn at the University through John Keane.
She learns about a poetry society run by a Tony Scrivener, and his interest in a student Hudson Baye.
After another meeting, Susie Yup she is summoned to meet Wendy Lockinge the vice-Chancellor and asked to help. There has been mysterious drug-death on Campus involving Hudson Baye, and members of Scrivener’s poetry club who turn out to be from the Meniscus Laboratories.
Susie Yup reluctantly agrees to help.
