S. and Sola do not speak to each other for a long time. Over the decades they have had so many “missed connections and thoughts unspoken” that they need to let all of these pieces “settle around them.” It is hard for them to know what to say.

S. finally asks Sola whether she has been down to the orlop deck. Sola responds that writing in the orlop deck has never been her role. It is the crew’s role, and it has been S.’s role ever since he decided to enter the orlop deck. Sola says that he could have guessed this if he had read “the Lady’s books more closely.” Sola says that she shouldn’t be surprised, and that the same thing happened with Sobreiro.

S. asks how he is connected to Sobreiro. Sola tells him that they have different stories, but share the same tradition.

It is surprising to see Sola speak so candidly about Sobreiro. Sobreiro has been shrouded in mystery for the entire novel, but now it appears that he may have actually been real. In fact, it seems as though Sobreiro experienced what S. is experiencing now. Sobreiro may have also been a passenger on a strange ship, and he may have also been part of a ritualistic writing.

Jen wonders where she and Eric would be if they had met sooner.

Eric responds that they would have had more time.