In this chapter, we are introduced to a new character, Mr. Sewall. He is a young man who has just returned from a business trip in Europe. He has just arrived at the port in Marseilles, France, and is waiting for his ship to return to France. He does not know where he is, but he does know that the ship has landed and is on its way back to the port. When he hears the sound of a ship's engine, he immediately assumes that it is a ship bound for Marseilles. He also assumes that the sound is coming from a nearby heli-mech, which is a kind of airship. He asks why the ship did not come to him immediately, and the young man replies that he was waiting for the ship to come back to him. The young man then asks why he did not try to contact him, and he is told that he is not allowed to do so.