The Toll

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains descriptions of violence and suicide, and instances of bias against people with genderfluid identities.

In his inaugural address, High Blade Robert Goddard, the leader of the scythes in MidMerica, ends the gleaning quota for scythes. This means scythes can glean (or kill as a mechanism of population control) as few or as many people as they choose. Goddard takes full responsibility for the drowning of the artificial island of Endura, as it was his former apprentice Rowan Damisch who committed “the unthinkable act” (9).

Greyson Tolliver is kidnapped in his sleep by former Nimbus director Audra Hillard and two other agents. Since Greyson is the only known person to whom the Thunderhead—the near-omniscient AI running their world—communicates any longer, the agents want Greyson to intercede with the AI on their behalf. Greyson asks the agents for an earpiece and uses it to talk to the Thunderhead. The only direction the Thunderhead has for the agents is “8.167, 167.33” (18). The confused agents look at each other, wondering what the numbers mean. Just then the Tonists, the anti-scythe religious faction with whom Greyson lives, break in and rescue Greyson.