We're Not from Here

Marf takes Lan’s family to her house in a pod with a comfortable purple interior and technology that allows them to travel very fast without feeling negative effects. On the way, Marf explains that she sells robots she makes and that Ezger doesn’t like them because they poke fun at the Krik. Lan’s mom asks how Marf and Ezger can be friends if Krik eat Ororo. She explains that generations ago, the Ororo changed their biological makeup so that their fat cells are now poisonous to the Krik, which she calls a “creative solution to a serious public health problem” (140).

Marf lives in a house similar to Lan’s, only with lots of advanced-looking technology. Marf’s parents create an antidote for Lan’s dad in about 10 minutes and tell him to keep it for future attacks. This concerns Lan’s family, who insist they shouldn’t be attacked because humans aren’t violent. The Ororo calmly point out that the humans are violent but that their violence doesn’t really matter to the Zhuri anyway: It is “simply the excuse they have chosen to justify denying [humans] refuge” to avoid a repeat of what happened with the Nug (143). Lan’s mom asks what happened to the Nug.

The Ororo give a brief lesson on Zhuri politics. There are two groups—those in favor of progress and those in favor of tradition. When the Nug asked for refuge on Choom, the progressives were in power, and they agreed, largely because they thought the Nug’s art and performance could enhance Zhuri life. The Zhuri enjoyed Nug culture until a festival during which the Nug writhed and screamed. The festival should have lasted 10 days, but on the fourth day, “a swarm of angry Zhuri killed every last Nug” (148).

In the aftermath, the Zhuri were mortified by what they’d done, and the government changed hands from the progressives to the traditionalists. To prevent this from happening again, the government decided the best course was to ban all emotions. As a result, the traditionalists feel threatened by human art but also conflicted because they promised humanity refuge. Instead of flagrantly breaking their promise, the Zhuri are making it look like the humans are violent so they can justify sending them away. After leaving Marf’s home, Lan’s family discusses their options. They can’t share entertaining videos or art meant to cause emotions, but they could try to make people have emotions so that they will see there’s nothing to fear. The family decides to do so, figuring they’ve got nothing to lose.

The next day, Lan goes to school without Ila again. On the way, they receive a text from Naya that says things are getting bad on the ship because people are angry and afraid. Lan tries to stay positive, but Naya ends the conversation by telling Lan she loves them, which Lan knows means she’s really scared. Lan ends the conversation and finishes the ride to school trying not to think about what will happen if they do not convince the Zhuri to allow the humans to stay.

In class, Lan tries to think of ways to be funny. After trying and failing to solve a math problem on the board, Lan imitates the Zhuri walk, making a show of tripping and falling. The teacher tells the class not to be mean because it was an accident, but Lan doesn’t think it’s mean and breathes in “the rich, sugary-sweet smell of Zhuri laughter” (163).