Who is Frigate from To Your Scattered Bodies Go; a Science Fiction Novel and what is their importance?

Frigate was a writer in the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century who worships Burton as a hero and follows him until Burton dies one night by drowning himself in the river. Frigate is intelligent, inquisitive, and does his best to assist Burton whenever he can. He and Burton are separated a long time after Burton's first death, but they are reunited at the end of the novel as Burton resumes his journey up the river.