“No,” he said. “But no one will believe it.”
“There was Captain Nakamura,” I said, “and the River dragon.”
“A strange ship,” he said, “from faraway. What might that have to do with the things you mention?”
“It came from the World’s End,” I said.
“All people will know,” he said, “is that it is an unusual ship, and it is not clear from whence it came.”
“Is it important,” I asked, “whether people believe it or not?”
“Not at all,” he said.
“You do not mind,” I said, “if the story is told?”
“No,” he said. “I would like for it to be told.”
“You will be leaving in a few days,” I said.
“Yes,” he said.
“I shall not ask where,” I said.
“I am not as yet sure myself,” he said.
“I conjecture that names, and such, will be changed.”
“Quite possibly,” he said. “That would seem judicious.”
“I will wish you well,” I said.
“And I, too,” he said, “will wish you well.”
I now conclude this tale.
It may be recalled that my slave had long been nameless. For example, she had had no name given her in The Sea Sleen, and had been purchased by Callias as a nameless slave, much as one might purchase any nameless animal. Still slaves like to have names, and it is convenient that they should be named, obviously, for a variety of reasons, for ease of referring to them, instructing them, and such. Her collar, in The Sea Sleen, had simply identified her as a paga girl of that tavern, to be returned there if found strayed, or fled. Her name now, with mine, identifying me as her master, appeared on her collar. It seemed she had hoped to be given a beautiful name, and had long hoped that a particular name, one which much appealed to her, would be given to her. It was with fervency that she had knelt before me, her head to my feet, and timidly asked that she might be given a name, and informed me of the one she hoped might be hers. I thought her choice lovely. It is a name not unknown in Brundisium, and one often encountered amongst the islands. It is ‘Helen’.
So let this tale be concluded.
I wish you well.
Calisthenes,
Office of the Registry,
Harbor Administration,
Port of Brundisium,
Scribe.