““The rats that had once fouled their food became their food. But soon the rats were gone. After two more days of hunger, the barber and the cook broke down the captain’s body. All of them ate, though no man looked at the others as he did so. But Edmund, unwilling to let things lie, knew that with a split hull and no sails, any voyage to land would be a long one. A full belly made his mind sharp, and he saw that there was plenty of meat to be taken if a man had the will. The barber was discovered in the hold, razor in his hand and throat open. A mortal sin, all agreed. This time there was no delay in eating, though still the men did not look at one another. Persephone drifted, at the mercy of current and Christ.””
