But he stops, stares ahead at the east side of the Island. He walks again to the end of the main harbour to take a better look. The floating harbour of the refugees impairs the beautiful scene of the sunrise. He tries to focus and see more details from where he stands. The floating harbour is at least twice the size of the main harbour where he is standing on, stretching deep into the sea. It slightly moves with the waves, or maybe it is because of the dancing light of the dawn that makes it look like being in motion. It doesn’t seem to have any strong foundations. It is made up of wood and plastic planes, scattered on the water and pinned together to make a floating surface. There are many small shelters made up of plastic and wooden pieces and covered with the ragged remains of sailcloth, all shagged and garbled. It has been put up without any thoughts and considerations and would probably be torn into pieces with the first storm of the rain season. The floating harbour is filled with people, although he can’t clearly see them from here but he identifies the womanly figures roaming on the floating surface, attending their daily chores and the children swimming around the harbour.

He wishes to go there and ask them directly what has driven them away from their homes having made them live like this in such awful and unsafe condition. It would be better if he prepared a first-hand report of the refugee situation and took it back with him. At least he won’t be so empty-handed when he gets to the Saviour ship. But he doesn’t have time, even a half a day could be too late for saving Hurmaz’s life. He hastens his steps towards the gate booth. The lines have shortened and the port officer is sitting behind his desk, trying to calm down an old woman who is quarrelling about something. The woman finally gets out and walks to the docks, cursing the officer. Tirad goes to the desk and introduces himself. The officer is a good-looking young man with a broad shoulder and he has grown his light-brown hair and beard like dedicated Saviour followers. He gets up and Tirad feels small when the tall officer stands in front of him, greeting him with kind, respectful words.

Tirad sorts out the boat trip to Avij for Dalia and her mother first. Even though the boat sailing tomorrow doesn’t have any vacancies, the officer accepts and writes their names down in the passenger list, among seeing the Circle order. Tirad gives him the coins for the journey and the officer promises that the two women will be taken good care of. Tirad then goes about his main business, telling him he needs an emergency boat to the Saviour Island. The fine-looking officer frowns as he looks into his books. It is obvious that his hands are tight in the matter. Tirad offers to pay him twice the coins needed to get a speedboat taking him today and arriving at the Island in a day and a half. But the officer shakes his head and says he can’t do anything to help and he will need time to find something for him. Most boats are already fully booked and speedboats usually won’t accept such long journeys. The officer goes ahead explaining the regulations and arrangements of the port, telling him everything is always in order on the Oxan harbour and the port schedule is always tight. He needs more time to find what Tirad wants. Tirad becomes furious. He doesn’t have time to listen to all the useless explanations or to waste any more time arguing to the officer while he should already be sailing home.