The refugee harbour seems small from here but when he was standing on it that morning it seemed like going on forever. He didn’t like standing on the floating surface that kept sliding under his feet and had felt uncomfortable among the women and children that surrounded him. Most of all, he had felt impotent and weak. Whatever happens, he promises himself to help solve the matter peacefully, although he hadn’t stayed for tonight’s meeting. The Oxan chiefs can’t evacuate the refugee harbour fast enough; they would need many boats and an exact schedule. He should have stayed and helped. The main harbour is too busy all the time and there are not any free boats lying around. They have to spend money for the evacuation and Oxan wouldn’t do that unless the Saviour Ship pays for it. Tirad thinks about the procedure that needs to be followed for the evacuation as if he wants to save them in his memory for later, after he makes sure Hurmaz is not in danger. He will come back to see it through. Now that he has seen the situation close hands, he can estimate the number of the refugees, the boats needed and the cost for the evacuation. They also need to buy food, water and fuel for the safe trip to the ships. It can be done. Mart would probably hand in the peace treaty to the Oxan chiefs tonight, and they will try to warn the refugees and give them some time. Some of the refugees may go back to their ships after the warning and they will have to plan the evacuation for the rest.

He is concerned for the refugees but more worried about Hurmaz. He will get back in a week, after he makes sure that things are safe and sound on the Saviour Ship. If Mart and the Circle have anything to do with the danger that threatens Hurmaz’s life, he will prove it and stop them. The refugee mission could be handed to him directly if he can overthrow Mart showing his involvement in the plan to kill Hurmaz. It would be better for him. He can take care of the traitors and proceed to the evacuation without being constantly concerned about the hidden agendas of Mart and the rest of the disciples. Tirad sighs and stares at Oxan. He wants to sketch it, now that he has calculated its proportions but it’s getting dark and there is not enough light on the boat. The boatman wouldn’t turn on the lights not until he starts the engine. He doesn’t know how much further they have to go until the boatman properly starts riding. Perhaps they need to get far to the point where Oxan wouldn’t be visible anymore. The Oxan lights are starting to blink as the dusk falls. He had seen this view with Dalia. It seems like years ago but it was only last night! So many things had happened in the last day. He is so tired of the sleepless night, all these worries and thoughts. He wants to make sure the boatman starts the engine to lie down and go to sleep. He can’t take it any longer. He gets up from the bench to ask the boatman why he is neither rowing nor turning on the engine. A sudden sound like something banging on the hull stops him where he stands.