Woman on the Edge of Time Chapter 5 Summary

  • And back off to the future with Luciente again.
  • Luciente says that at one point in the 1990's people learned to control the weather and it turned out badly.
  • Obviously, we know now that that didn't happen. People in the 1990's were too busy on AOL Instant Messenger and listening to the Spice Girls to control the weather.
  • The cat shows up again, and Luciente explains that in the future they talk to cats.
  • Luciente explains they have sign language with cats. Admittedly, cats don't say much that is too complicated.
  • It turns out the future is at war; everybody takes turns being in the army, unless they don't want to.
  • Nobody is forced to do much in the future. That's why it's a utopia. (Though if you're unpleasant you may be asked to leave the village. And sometimes healers can heal you of being unpleasant.)
  • They go to the birthing place, where babies are born out of tubes.
  • They explain that the Wampanoag Indians are the source of their culture.
  • Connie meets Bee and has a bit of a crush on him; he reminds her of her husband Claud (who was also black).
  • Bee explains that race in the future doesn't make any difference, but they have different cultures because difference is strong (but difference isn't linked to skin color).
  • Connie is really upset by babies being born from tubes. Luciente tells her it's necessary for women to give up the power of birth in order to have equality for everyone. Connie seems unconvinced.
  • Connie remembers her own child, Angelina, who was taken away from her. She cries and ends up back in the asylum.