Chang, now a Middle Kingdom constable, arrests Hackworth. Fang, now a Middle Kingdom judge, finds Hackworth guilty of trafficking stolen intellectual property. Fang sentences him to 10 years in prison and only one of the 16 cane strokes Hackworth deserves; all Hackworth must do is agree to make Primers for Dr. X’s “mice” (rescued baby girls). Later, Hackworth suggests modifying the Primer’s programming to make it “more suitable for the unique cultural requirements of the Han readership” (150) by disabling its interactive functions, especially use of a real ractor for the voice; this is a malicious suggestion designed to make the Primers less effective. The court agrees and releases Hackworth to go home to his family since the Middle Kingdom has no jail yet. He understands that he is now under the control of Dr. X.

Nell spends more time reading the Primer than listening as she becomes a more proficient reader. She also uses it as a journal to record the abuse she experiences from Tequila’s boyfriends. Nell learns more about self-defense by reading stories about tiny creatures defeating Dinosaur using their wits and physics. Nell changes her diet based on what Dojo teaches her about nutrition.