Decoud has regained his sense of objective reference, this time in relation to failure and death, which are even given a quasi-physical location. His mood makes the biggest upswing yet; he is now exulting in the darkness, specifically because of its power to cause ignorance (in Sotillo), where a moment ago he was terrified of dying "overwhelmed by ignorance and darkness."

What made the difference? Precisely the boat, which, significantly, exists to Decoud only as a painter, a cord. In other word, the tightrope-walker Decoud has rediscovered the thematic cord by which he can continue his balancing act.