'They will,' Merriman says, and his voice is firm and decisive. 'This story is not over. Somehow or another, it will continue. I have no way of knowing what the end result will be' -- he has no intention of going near the Astrolabe again if he can possibly help it, prophecy or no -- 'but this is not an ending.'

He looks round again, at the work that is going on upon and below the decks.

'Nor, I think, is it all that much of a pause.'