Mortal Engines

As they drift through the night, Hester tells Tom about her history with Grike. He rescued her after she escaped Valentine and washed up on the shore of the Hunting Ground. She never knew why he saved her, but she lived with him for five years until she fully remembered what happened the night of her parents’ deaths. When she told Grike she wanted to go after Valentine, he told her not to, so she snuck out. She doesn’t know how he came to work for Crome or why he wants her dead. Tom suggests that she hurt his feelings, to which Hester says Grike doesn’t have feelings while sounding “as if she envies him” (123).

Tom tries not to think about what happened at Airhaven, and Hester distracts him by teaching him about the stars and how to use them for navigating. Tom points out a star to the west that’s growing brighter, and they realize that it’s Grike’s airship. Hester brings the balloon down, where they jump out and then let the balloon rise again in hopes that Grike will chase it. Cold and exhausted, Tom trudges after Hester in the direction of London.