chib's exhibition dissolves into violence as his friend omar runic declaims an improvised poem in tribute to chib's latest work. this is also common, particularly as the "fido" reporters are always keen to stir up trouble, and the artists hate the critics. one artist, a science fiction writer named huga wells-erb heinsturbury, starts the riot by attacking a reporter from "time" magazine, now a government-run news agency which has kept the attitudes of the original corporation, including a deep hatred of science fiction. chib smashes his painting, a blasphemous nativity scene, into rex luscus's stomach. suddenly he receives a message from grandpa. falco accipiter has broken into the apartment and found his hiding place.