The first name on the Spray's visitors' book in the home port was written by the one who always said, 'The Spray will come back.'
I had already found that it was not good to be alone, and so I made companionship with what there was around me, sometimes with the universe and sometimes with my own insignificant self; but my books were always my friends, let fail all else.
Evening after evening during this time I read by the light of a candle on deck. There was no wind at all, and the sea became smooth and monotonous.