It wasn’t very long before the sails of Senhor Ernesto Ortiz’s ship appeared on the horizon. As soon as they did, the whole island gathered on the pier. Expectancy was high even if it was mixed.
   Most of them wanted to know if there was hope that their twin siblings were indeed still alive. Milly wanted know if she were Ernesto’s one and only — though she did wonder about her twin as well.
   In fact, so anxious was everyone to get the news, that the Johnnies were unable to push their way to the front. Grandpa, of course, was standing in front of the group.
   Added to the mixture of emotions was that of Ernesto, who strode down the gangway towards the group looking for the strongest pair of men to help unload the engraved monument to his dear departed son.
   ‘Hello my dear friends. I’ve had a monument engraved in the memory of dear João. Perhaps a few of you can help me bring it, and we can set it on that stone over there?’
   ‘A monument?’
   ‘To Johnny?’
   ‘Why yes’ said Ernesto. ‘He was dear to all of our hearts. Mine especially.’
   ‘Well, we all love the boys, but to erect a monument to them — it seems — you know, rather ...’
   ‘Where I came from,’ Ernesto explained, ‘it’s always been the tradition, when one dies, to erect a monument over their grave; but as João was lost in the sea — unless you recovered the body — did you?’
   ‘What!?’
   ‘Johnny? Dead? This is a new twist!’
   Grandpa was quick to perceive the situation. He motioned with his hand for silence, and said, ‘My dear Senhor Ernesto. Not only have we recovered one body, but two, and they are both very much alive. Johnny!’ He turned around. ‘Both of you, come and meet your papa.’
   The way was made in the crowd, and the two came slowly forward to their father. One’s hair was very short, and the other’s had been cut not quite so short so that the two wouldn’t be confused.
   Ernesto stood there with his mouth open.
   Having thought that his son was dead, there should have been the joy of seeing him alive; but seeing instead of one, two of the same son; this rather had the effect of making him wonder if he, instead, had died, or some cosmic accident had happened and a life had been added where it should have been taken away.

   ‘Do I see two Joãos?’
   ‘Indeed, you do,’ said Grandpa. ‘Come in and sit down. We need to ask some questions.’
   ‘I think I also have questions,’ said Ernesto.
   Grandpa signalled to everyone else to hold off on theirs for the time being.
   As they went to Grandpa’s hut, both Johnnies went along on either side, each holding their fathers hand. When they got inside and sat down, Ernesto asked first one, and the other, ‘You are João?’
   ‘Yes, Papa.’
   ‘And you are João?’
   ‘Yes, Papa.’
   ‘Which one of you is really João?’
   ‘We both are, Papa.’
   ‘Which did I take on the boat?’
   ‘We’ve both gone with you Papa.’
   ‘But not together.’
   ‘Ah, I think I see now,’ said Ernesto. ‘I’ve had to explain things to you twice. Maybe you’re not such a dim witted child. I gave you a compass once, did I not?’
   The first Johnny took out a compass that had been his Papa’s gift.
   ‘And you?’
   The other Johnny took out a slightly different looking compass. Ernesto remembered them both. He had only given the other after lecturing his son on taking care of such valuable gifts.
   ‘Ah, so I’ve taken you first, and on the following trip, I took you.’
   ‘Yes, Papa.’
   ‘Yes, Papa.’
   ‘So the reason why you remembered nothing I taught you was because it wasn’t you at all but you.’
   ‘Yes, Papa.’
   ‘That’s why Papa.’
   ‘So that means that ...’
   Ernesto sat there in the same position for a moment, with his mouth open ready to speak out the next logical conclusion. Grandpa was also sitting, waiting for him to reach that conclusion.
   Now, Ernesto was muttering in Portuguese: ‘Two degrees turn South at Lao-tuna — yes — this one [pointing to one Johnny] — two degrees turn North at Lao-tuna — yes — this one [pointing at the other Johnny] — so that means that — that means that...’
   No matter how many times he repeated ‘...that means that...’ he just couldn’t come to the conclusion that it obviously meant.
   ‘No! It’s the current!’ he said loudly and abruptly, still in Portuguese. ‘The current throws me off every time!’
   He got up and strode back to the boat and sat there, refusing to talk to anyone — even Johnny.
   Grandpa knew just enough Latin to be able to make out what he was muttering about. For the moment, he thought it best to leave him alone. Give him a bit of time, he thought. He’ll come around.

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