The scene begins with a bird metaphor: “It sounds as if S. is being held captive in a sanctuary for deranged passerine.”
Straka then describes the whistles that the men are able to blow through their stitches. It is interesting that he gave these characters a way to communicate, despite their physical restraints.

Eric notes that there is an artifact of a wooden whistle with an S. symbol in Prague.

He says that “Looper put it up for auction in ’25 (along w/ 19 pieces of the obsidian etched with the S). Said it was all precious to VMS, all centuries old, found in a shipwreck near the Azores”

The number 19 appears once again in the text. There are actually many documented shipwrecks near the Azores, in Portugal.

Jen wonders whether Straka ever played the whistle, and proposes that they get it tested for DNA.

Jen later notes that the whistle has gone missing, implying robbery.