Joshua, now married to Helen, is summoned by Lobsang to deal with multiple gathering crises that threaten to plunge the Long Earth into a war unlike any humankind has waged before.

Upon finding Joshua (still imprisoned on the Beagle world), Lobsang makes a speech and successfully implores the trolls to return to their natural place throughout the Long Earth, now cohabitating with humans.

When Sally and Jansson return with the weapons, the Beagles "honour" Joshua by hunting him—with the intent of providing him with a glorious death.

Upon reaching the destination of their mission, Valhalla, they find a peaceful settlement with "rebel" leader Jack Green (father of Helen as well as Rod, the Madison bomber).

Joshua, now safely home, refuses a Black Corporation prosthetic hand in favour of a clunky mechanical one—keeping once more from Lobsang's reach.