On his way down, Sisyphus is stunned and dismayed to have bumped into his brother Mesaphus. While it is certainly pleasant to see his brother after two years apart, Sisyphus considers this reunion an intolerable disruption to his routine. In fact, an overwhelming anger starts to swell in Sisyphus’ heart for his brother’s untimely appearance. Just when I thought it was another day, he laments.

Sisyphus watches Mesaphus hike up the Peak, but his rock is nowhere to be seen. “Brother! How are you here? Looks like you got rid of your rock!” Sisyphus yells. As it turns out, two years ago, Mesaphus left the Hill with his rock to find the Ocean, where rumors had it then that he could rest his rock on the beach and spend his day however he liked. And so, a few months after he arrived at the Ocean, he sunk his rock off the shore.

“I miss the Peak, brother. The Ocean will never be as satisfying. But this time, no rock is needed,” Mesaphus says. Sisyphus sees his proud smile. And Mesaphus is indeed barely sweating. But somehow, he thinks Mesaphus is showing too much teeth. Though concerned, Sisyphus decides not to think about it too much. He doesn’t have time. Plus, he needs to save his energy. The next shift begins in exactly twenty-two minutes.

Mesaphus wants to ask his little brother how he’s doing, but he dares not to. And so, the brothers bid farewell. Back at the bottom of the valley, Sisyphus adjusts his shoes and rolls up his sleeves again. Out of the corner of his eyes, he catches his brother’s silhouette waning against the setting sun.

Unlike himself, he pauses and studies him. He sees his brother’s footsteps. Weary, it seems. Occasionally, he raises his right hand to his face. He thinks, is he crying? Isn’t his rock gone? But the thought doesn’t last long, as he turns and begins to roll his rock onwards and up.