Chapter 16: The Sinking
The Pequod sank slowly into the dark ocean. The crew scrambled to save what they could, grabbing floating pieces of wood and supplies. The ship that had carried us across the world was gone forever.
I found myself in the water, struggling to stay above the surface. Around me, men cried for help and reached for anything that could keep them afloat. The ocean, which had been our workplace, now became our grave.
Through the chaos, I saw Queequeg swimming toward me. He reached out his hand and pulled me toward a floating coffin that had been prepared for another sailor. Together, we clung to this unlikely refuge in the vast emptiness of the sea.