Tova remembers emigrating from Sweden as a child in 1956, the voyage on the SS Vadstena, and a whiskered fellow passenger she and Lars nicknamed the Walrus, who taught her card games and the maxim, “Always expect the unexpected.”

Back at the aquarium that same night, Tova watches Cameron at work—bandage askew, mops in hand—and evaluates his efforts. She notes streaked glass and poorly seated trash liners, instructing him on cotton cloths and proper bag placement. Cameron bristles, cites poor training, and jokes about town gossip while reiterating his promise to keep Tova’s secret visit to Marcellus quiet.

When Tova admonishes him about nearly letting Marcellus roam free, Cameron protests ignorance. Tova explains that Marcellus can undo locks and likely escapes from boredom, emphasizing his intelligence. Cameron worries about what to do if it happens again; Tova says to leave Marcellus alone, but privately doubts that inaction is safe given the octopus’s escalating risks.

Thinking of Erik and the sea’s pull, Tova briefly imagines the mercy of release, then redirects. She decides on a proactive approach: she will show Cameron not how to capture Marcellus, but how to befriend him—invoking the Walrus’s lesson to “expect the unexpected” as they head back to the pump room to plan for next time.