At the end of the story, Tuan presumably returns to where he came from, while Arsat prepares to leave and face his brother's murderers.

Tuan arrives at the island to visit his friend Arsat at the beginning of the story. Arsat's wife is ill and dying; the two men talk about how they came to be together as Arsat explains what happened to his brother. When he fell in love with Diamelen, he knew he could never have her, because she was a chief's woman. His brother helped him liberate her, and the three of them tried to get away together. However, his brother was beset by the enemy and killed while Arsat and Diamelen escaped together.

In the night, Diamelen dies. Arsat feels deep grief over her passing but refuses to go with Tuan. Tuan says that he'll wait all morning if Arsat decides to go, but Arsat tells him not to. Tuan leaves and goes back to the boat to continue his journey.

Arsat sits on the island and says that he's waiting for his view to clear. He thinks with regret on his brother, whom he left surrounded by enemies. Now that Diamelen is dead, he's free to go find them and try to get revenge. When Tuan looks back, Arsat is still sitting there without moving.