Straka asks the question, “Why is the man in the overcoat so wet?” and goes on to list a number of possibilities. Has he been wading through the maze of submerged tunnels under the city? Did an anonymous onlooker pull him out of the river that runs through the Old Quarter? Even the mystery man himself does not know the answer. In fact, he knows very little about his past life. He has only three things connecting him to his past life: A piece of paper with an ornate “S” written on it, a small, black, hard object that resembles a piece of dried fruit or a pebble, and a terrifying memory of falling from a great height.

This information continues to build up the mystery around our protagonist, who knows just as much about himself as us readers do. In Eric’s reading notes we see that he is already beginning to make connections between the mystery man and V.M. Straka in an effort to discover his true identity. He underlines the excerpt: “..the waters beneath the wobbly bridge that spans the river, connecting the Old Quarter and the new.” and notes, Like Vaclav Straka? (A reference to his death). Later on he notes all the Straka candidates who died by falling: Vaclav Straka (Bridge); Ekstrom (Balcony); Summersby (Overboard); Feurbach (In Home)

It seems as though Eric is intent on the idea that somehow the mystery man represents VMS in some sort of way, which, considering Ship of Theseus was VMS’s last work, is certainly a valid assumption. However, in some ways Eric contradicts himself because he is very adamant on telling Jen that one must not always assume relation between a novel’s character and the author of the novel. At this point in the book, it is difficult to say whether or not Eric is right in his assumptions, but he may certainly be onto something.

Jen and Eric continue to touch on personal topics, and this time it’s about Jen’s uncertain future:

M+D said they won’t help out at all if I turn down the marketing job D arranged in nyc.

Do you want the job?

Not really–but having a plan seems better than not having one.

Turn it down. Find something you’re passionate about.

No offense, but that doesn’t seem to be working out so well for you right now.

You’ve got too sharp a mind to waste on something so crass and manipulative.

It’s what D does for a living.

Forget “D.” What does J. want??

It seems as though Jen is beginning to grow on Eric, considering the care and concern he expressed towards her future. He even went as far as to compliment Jen, something he has not been known to do thus far. Jen is in a tough spot considering that the type of job she has lined up in NYC is one that does not fit her personality type. Jen is someone who intrinsically doesn’t like straightforwardness and letting other people tell her what to do (think about the fact that she didn’t read all of VMS’s books in chronological order even though Eric heavily suggested her to), so something as mundane as a marketing job in NYC would undoubtedly leave her unhappy.

Jen and Eric end the page by debating whether or not Durand should be included in Eric’s list of Straka candidates who died by falling.