| I'm telling you, the world hates me.
Sweaty, white and clammy palms gripped the metal railing, and we all waited for the end. Some were crying, some were praying, and still others stared with blank and disbelieving eyes at the doom that had befallen us all. I quickly grabbed my cap up from the floor and ran to where a group of officers were standing around on the deck, smoking their expensive cigarettes and laughing at some ridiculous quip. The first man who came in reach of my arms was quickly captured by my hands and turned around to face me. He was a taller man than I, of fair complexion; he had sandy blonde hair that escaped in tufts from underneath his officer’s cap, and blue eyes that shone with the deepest blasé apathy I had ever seen. A cigarette was pressed lightly between his lips, and smoke siphoned slowly out of the small part of his mouth. I shook the man violently.
“What in bloody hell are ya doing?” I yelled at him, “Can’t ya see the god damned ship is ‘bout to be wrecked?”
He stared for a moment, and then gave me a slight smirk, replying, “Well, of course the ship is going to wreck. What’s your point?”
Confusion and anger flooded my brain, so I shook him again.
“Aren’t ya boys goin’ to do somethin, I mean, for god sakes, ya all are the commanders o’ this vessel, aintcha? ”
“That we are. Tell me, good sir, what is it exactly that you expect from us? This doom is inescapable, as you can see. Our radio is dead, and even if it weren’t help is not always guaranteed. Our life boats were destroyed by poor maintenance in this ships younger day, so there is no hope for saving even a few,” he replied in the same cynical tone as before. “Unless you plan on flying off of this ship, there is no hope; consign yourself now to death and make joy of your remaining time, for what else is there? So if you’re not going to join me in a smoke, let off immediately and leave me be,” he said, shaking my loose hands off his jacket and promptly turning back to his comrades.
I thought about attacking this man out of thoughtless rage, but before my hand could be raised, the icy and indifferent ocean came down upon my head, and I was no more. |