Fire means knowledge. Light means knowledge. So in an ironic twist of fate, the captors use the fire to get Equality to tell them more. This chapter shows Equality's rising intolerance for the government at this point. This chapter may be the precursor to a turning point that will herald the rise of Equality against the great "We" structured authority. A bit awkward at times but it's still a great chapter to read. Ayn Rand is a master of the rising action part of a story.