A witness to the death of a wooden ship who comes to Horn turns out to be an impostor, and the relationship with the werewolf double turns into a deadly duel, which forces Horn to dive into the depths of his own psyche and comprehend the layers of consciousness dating back to different eras. The novel, rich in references to ancient myths, can be read as a parable about the final frontiers of the human personality and the role that art plays in our lives.