The Stranger in the Lifeboat

Sea

A young man is pulled from the sea, uninjured, and dragged into a lifeboat. The narrator remarks upon the young man’s appearance and makes a note—speaking as he is in the pages of a notebook journal—addressing himself to Annabelle, hoping that something of him will survive, and knowing that he must tell his story. The narrator is one of a group of strangers in the confined space of the raft having just survived the sinking of the Galaxy, a luxury yacht, three days prior.

The narrator, whom we come to find out is named Benji, remarks in his journal on several mysterious happenings—the plan of a person by the name of Dobby, his own sense of personal guilt for the sinking of the boat—but remains silent in the group for the time being. Having pulled the young man into the boat, a number of the people introduce themselves: Jason Lambert, the owner of the Galaxy; Nevin; Geri; Yannis; Mrs. Laghari; Jean Philippe; Bernadette; Alice; and the narrator himself (Benji). As they finish, the stranger introduces himself: “‘I am the Lord,’ he whispered” (5).

Taken aback by the stranger’s words, the group immediately considers the boy to be delirious (especially considering the stranger’s sudden appearance three whole days after the shipwreck).