S continues to ponder the art in the barn for a while, thinking about other places that artifacts could originate from, including the library of the Obsidian Island. The thought that Vevoda could have “The S book itself” (431) unnerves him, making his hands shake again. This serves acknowledgment that it was nerves that made his hands shake rather than the weight of the tray like he pretended on page 428.

Two other servants, carrying full cases of bottles to serve to the guests, leave the door slightly ajar when they walk through, having been instructed to do so, giving S an opportunity to slip in, which he does unnoticed after ensuring that no agents were watching him.

When S gets in, he takes note of a barrel that appears to be pretty ordinary- “French oak darkened with age, five feet in diameter at top and base, on its side and fitted with a spout for bottling” (431). This is a pretty nondescript barrel. However, it is marked with very significant lettering: Noir Calais 1912.

Jen notes the significance of Calais, as does FXC in a footnote. The Calais massacre, where many people were killed at a Brouchard factory in Calais, serves as inspiration for much of Straka’s writings and activism. Vevoda’s island represents Calais, and Vevoda represents Bouchard himself. Having the ultimate barrel of wine be from Calais is a not-so-subtle clue that Vevoda and Bouchard are equivalent, meaning that setting up Vevoda as the villain of “Ship of Theseus” reflects Straka’s view that Bouchard is a villain in the “real” world of Straka.