Book One: The Thing Was, Chapter 25-Chapter 26 Summary

On Manhattan Island, Bobby King goes home from his office. His role in the story is done, and he will die many years later, having no further effect on humanity. In Guayaquil, Zenji leaves his hotel room after fighting with his wife. He is waiting for the elevator when MacIntosh comes out to tell him the phones aren't working. Zenji, using Mandarax to translate, tries to tell MacIntosh to leave him alone. MacIntosh, though, follows Zenji into the elevator. They walk out of the hotel before Siegfried can stop them, and Siegfried runs after them to call them back.

Meanwhile, Siegfried's brother Adolf is taking a shower on the ship. His first mate, Hernando Cruz, is the one who knows everything about how the ship works. Cruz is worried about his...