Lifeboat 12

This section contains the poems “Awakening,” “A Decision,” “Change Places,” “Shelter,” “All Aboard,” “Supplies,” “Provisions,” “Water,” “Forbidden,” “Calculations,” “Water Rations,” “First Lunch,” “If Only…,” “Barriers,” “Understanding,” “Already Heroes,” “Bail, Matey, Bail!,” “Our Poor Feet,” “Passing the Time,” “A Tender Touch,” “Chins Up, Everyone!,” “Tension,” “The Loo,” “Raise a Flag,” “Sardines?,” “Questions,” and “God is Wise.”

In the morning light, no other lifeboats are visible except for the one from the Marina. Ken wonders how they were separated from the rest of the passengers and whether anyone survived. The Marina lifeboat decides to sail for Ireland, estimating they should make it there in about a week. Officer Cooper decides to stay where they are, near the sinking of the Benares, so a rescue ship can find them. Cooper has the passengers rearrange so they are sitting in groups, with British men in the stern, crewmen in the middle, and passengers at the bow. It’s a slow and delicate procedure to move in the boat without tipping or flooding. They all take turns sheltering under a canvas tarp, their only shelter against the elements. Out of boredom, Ken takes inventory of the passengers of Lifeboat 12: 46 in all, with 6 boys, 5 British sailors, 32 Lascars (Indian sailors), 1 businessman, 1 priest, and 1 woman.