Summary

In Chapter 55, the other boat catches up with Ven's boat. They fire shots and damage Ven's boat before another boat arrives, sinking the attackers.

In Chapter 56, Ven knows there will come a time when “there will be nothing but forests on the earth, when humankind is gone” (323). Ven is thrown into the freezing water. Yoko pulls him to safety. As Ven clings to her, he thinks about the day he lost his grip on Vae's hand. In this chaos, Ven suddenly realizes the identity of Pontus. He tells Yoko to be sure the information does not die with him. He says he also knows why Georg never killed him. When rescue boats arrive, Ven is afraid to let go of Yoko until she nods that he is alright.

In Chapter 57, rescuers begin to ask Ven questions. He cannot tell them his name or...