The five fugitives continue to move through the forest and the narrator says “perhaps only Pfeifer has abandoned his hope of return and a reconciliation – Pfeifer, whose anger always seems to be the closest to the surface(…).” Although Pfeifer seems, for a while, to be the most outraged at Vévoda, it is possibly this acceptance of loss that later on allows him to accept a new, more comfortable and easy path, rather than dying for his cause.

On the previous page, Stenfalk sits under a White Oak. On this page, Jen circles the word “fox” and writes:

Fox is the guide + maker of paths in “White Oak.”

“referring to the children’s tales written by Straka candidate Torsten Ekstrom” and “the name Ekstrom means Oak (ek) river (strom). All these details relating Oak relate Stenfalk to Ekstrom. (White Oak |Thoughts on S)

This established relationship between Stenfalk and Ekstrom could also be a way of communicating events outside Ship of Theseus (in Jen and Eric’s world). The  valise that Stenfalk has contains the S symbol on it and therefore Straka could potentially be sending a message to someone, stating that Ekstrom had such a valise or an important possession.

Jen also writes, in later round of notes, her preoccupations:

Been catching naps in the workrooms – don’t feel safe anywhere but the library.

This serves to build tension and to show how the Straka mystery has developed into a dangerous game for Jen and Eric.