Chapter 7
The mood in the galley was sombre as we prepared the evening meal. Our usual banter ceased as we cooked in silence.
I couldn’t face the grieving women again so I sent their meals down with a couple of junior seamen. The other of the crew were as noisy as usual over dinner, making plans for when they got back to shore and stirring each other up.
I couldn’t take it anymore. “A man just died. Have some respect.” I grabbed my plate, the meal only half eaten, and stormed out. I scraped the rest of my food into the scraps bucket, then started washing the dishes, blinking back tears as I scrubbed.
Nathan came into the galley and leant against the bench. “They weren’t being disrespectful.”
“But they’re all laughing and joking, like they don’t care.”
“They care. Ex has been in conta
