Tirad has never seen a body die from poisoning. Would there be blood coming out of the face, eyes, mouth or nose? Do they die without any visible marks? Or will there be swelling and livid marks around the mouth or a combination of all those? But the body will definitely have a bad smell, worst than that of Narivan’s. He imagines Hurmaz’s parting ceremony. It must have been outstanding with all the pilgrims and the disciples singing him the Departing Hymns. He wishes he was there with them…but it’s not too late to sing him the Hymns…and to say goodbye. What does it matter whose body he is throwing into the sea, he can say farewell to all his passed loved ones and wish them a prosperous life when they come back again to this world as a man or a fish. He reviews the Hymns in his mind but can’t say them out loud. He tries to murmur them, but can’t focus. He needs to take a deep breath and keep it in, to avoid inhaling the stench. He takes Narivan’s head while Dalia pulls up his legs. The body slips back to the boat. They do it over and over until they finally throw him out. Tirad takes off the cloth that covers his mouth, but he can still smell the stench. He tries not to throw up again, to stand like a Saviour Disciple, with his hands in front of him, singing the Hymns and saying farewell to all he has lost: Narivan, Hurmaz, Lealy and the refugees died in the fire:

“Man is made from water… He shall return to water… We bestow the child of the water into its care… May he comeback to us in the best of bodies… Either of man or the giant fish…”

Dalia ignores him and goes to the wheel. They need to get far away from there before dark. But Tirad follows her and as she turns on the engine, he starts questioning her about her father, asking why did he not return to Avij? Had they received any new boats from Oxan or the Saviour Ship? Did they have any special missions or a work proposal promising them good money? Dalia is not sure if the boat her father had gone with was a fishing boat or a diving boat. She is thinking, perhaps confused by Tirad’s questions.

“It was a fishing boat… A very advanced one with many tools and special equipment…” she says after putting her thoughts together.

“But you said your father was a diver, right? Why did he go with a fishing boat?” Tirad asks.

“Well… Diving age is limited, I suppose… Most divers turn to fishing after some time,” she replies after a pause but she seems unsure of her answer. She accelerates the boat to get away from Narivan’s water grave, ignoring Tirad’s demanding questions. Tirad tries to catch her attention to get clearer answers, but it is no use. Dalia is not in the mood, staring ahead at the vast grey waves. Tirad puts his hand on the wheel and makes her look at him.