what does this sentence imply?

Being called pagan means its being told by someone who believe the person being talked about worships a "lesser" religion.

And charons boat, i think, is a boat of the dead from greek mythology.

So if this guy is on the boat feeling desolate and refered to as pagan, maybe its a story being told of a guy who is scared of where hes being taken to in the afterlife for having the "wrong" beliefs.

Its could be a story told by an ancient roman trying to scare people into Christianity?

Charon is gone. Literally or figuratively.

Presumptuous