p. 256

The kaftan-clad figure hands S the valise and pushes him to leave for the leftmost pier of the dock. When S scans the rooftop for possible snipers, the figure convinces him that they are taken care of already. S cannot identify the figure due to the checheya, but still, he notices that he/she has thin fingers. S runs toward the water and gets on the dinghy. As the oars churn and the dinghy leaves the dock, S steals a look back and sees fire sweep the city.

The thin-finger figure that directs S to the dock is most likely Sola. Sola’s altruistic act of staying behind and the fire that engulfs the city emphasize the warmth of humanity as well as the brutality of war. On the marginalia, Jen wishes Eric can record his goodbye since that’s what she wants to hear the most.