 How does Rikud change through the story?
Every day for a week now, Rikud had come to the viewport to watch the great changeless sweep of space. But ever since the engines somewhere in the rear of the world had changed their tone, from the steady whining Rikud had heard all twenty-five years of his life, to the sullen roar that came to his ears now, the feelings had grown. Rikud knew that something which he could not explain had entered the elder man's head for a moment, but it had departed almost before Chuls knew of its existence. Rikud, for his part, wanted to get back to the viewport and watch the one new bright star. Rikud had been stopped in this action, although there was no real authority to stop him. Much of this Rikud could not understand, but he knew enough to realize that the reading machine had sided with the people against the elders, and it said the people had won. Rikud often thought of his own death, still seventy-five years in the future, not without a sense of alarm. "You know," Rikud said, sitting up now, "the stars in the viewport are changing." Rikud couldn't remember, and he suddenly wished he could read Crifer's book on astronomy, which meant the same as stars. Except that it was variable, which was like change, being tied up somehow with age. Rikud turned again to the port, where he could see nothing but an obscuring cloud of white vapor, murky, swirling, more confusing than ever.
 He questions his world, his lack of autonomy, and what it really means to live.
 He questions his world, his lack of autonomy, and what it really means to live.  He realizes that he will one day have a mate chosen for him, and children as well.  He realizes his desire to feel pain, and to hurt for the first time.  He questions his "strange" thoughts, and how pervasive they are.