Mulefa Wheels

Life rolls on when the seed takes root; without the wheel, there is no Mulefa.

In the parallel world visited by Mary Malone, a sentient species known as the Mulefa uses large, disc-shaped seed pods from their world's enormous seed-pod trees in locomotion. The pods fit onto a spur on their front and rear legs, and they propel themselves using their other two legs, like a cyclist without pedals. The Mulefa have a symbiotic relationship with the seed-pod trees: their use of the pods on the roads allows the pods' extremely hard exteriors to crack and the seeds to emerge.

Quick Facts

Species: Mulefa

Lore & Background

Mary Malone travelled from Will's world after her dark matter detector instructed her to go through the window into Cittàgazze, eventually arriving at the world of the Mulefa. The Mulefa use massive seed pods as wheels, fitting them onto their bodies in a process essential to their development. The Mulefa germinate the seeds, allowing the seed-pod trees to reproduce; as the book notes, seed-pod, spur and rock formation together enable the continued existence of the Mulefa. Mary discovers that Dust is no longer falling from the sky to pollinate the trees but is flowing sideways, leaving the flowers of the seed-pod trees unpollinated.

Reader's Guide

The Mulefa are four-legged: they have one leg in front, one in back, and one on each side. The pods fit neatly onto a spur on their front and rear legs once a zalif has grown enough to use them, and they propel themselves with their other two legs, like a cyclist without pedals. Ancient lava flows, solidified into smooth rivers of rock, serve as roads. The oil from the pods allows the Mulefa to "grow up", making them more self-aware and able to see Dust.

Did You Know?

Mary Malone traveled to the Mulefa's world after Dust particles told her to go there.
The seed-pod trees have been dying because Dust is streaming away and is no longer able to provide the trees with nourishment.