“Their control is not absolute. This is the story. S.’s story.”

S. comes to realize and accept that he cannot control life or the events that occur in life. He recognizes that all his story will ever be is a struggle to gain control over evil, in the particular form of Vévoda, and that he can never stop the greater powers at work.

He and Sola leave together, but stay prepared to finish their mission if the need arises. They will return to the ship to the surprise of the crew and sail off into the night. S. will pick up Maelstrom’s old spyglass, becoming one with the ship and accepting that the ship is his fate with Sola. The monkey also makes a final appearance as a consistent presence in S.’s life.

In the margins, there is dispute over both the true author of the novel and the purpose of the ending. Eric initially saw it as an anticlimactic way to show that Bouchard’s evil was small and insignificant and not worth S.’s/VMS’s time. His opinion changed to the belief that it was actually FXC showing that their love is more important than any greater evil.

An early note of Jen’s made the possibly sexist assumption that FXC wrote the line, “‘It’s too bad,’ Sola says, ‘I was fond of these shoes.'”

In a later note, Jen points out the cleanliness of their escape and the lack of naval mines. This supports her prediction that FXC wrote the final pages of these novels, hopeful of S. and Sola’s success as a couple and hopeful of her own possible success with VMS if he ever appears to her.

Just as S. questions “where will their steps lead?” Eric questions his own actions with Jen and whether or not they are right to and capable of writing a novel revealing their research. In response, Jen reveals what she believes is the most important thing they have gained throughout the process of writing in Ship of Theseus.

We’re not wasting our time – whether or not we find a trace of Vaclav this year – whether or not we ever do. We’re together, and I love you. Full stop. The End.

We don’t know that that’s the end.

We don’t know that it isn’t. So why not believe?

Jen believes in their relationship and sees their journey together as much greater than any mystery. She encourages Eric and shows him support that there is purpose to their work. At this point it is clear that they are equally in love and there is nothing more important.