Visually, this strip is meant to be a direct reference to Episode 55.  I’ll make it clear right here: Yes, The Third Man is the person the Healer was talking to.

The Third Man’s connection to Gene was a surprise to me.  I had planned for the Third Man to be involved with the shenanigans of Chapter 3, but I didn’t really know Gene would be until I wrote this strip.  Makes sense.  Guy’s a jerk.