At last, I had a plot. You'd think I'd rejoice. That would not be the rollicking adventure story I'd hope to write. The solution my subconscious presented was suspiciously close kin to the kind of tale I seem always to end up writing. I struggled against the revelation for a while and finally gave up.
People think writers have infinite choices to make when constructing a book.
In truth, we have very little. Usually, the choice is whether to complete this story or not. I chose to write it. I was too much in love with Jip and Put to let them go. And don't think of it as a sequel.