The blazing sun hung high as the crashing waves slammed against the ship's side, shattering into snowy foam that scattered across the deep blue sea.
The fishy sea breeze brushed past his cheeks, bringing with it a peculiar sensation.
Looking as far as the eye could see, the sea was as blue as a slab of crystal, stretching from beneath his feet all the way to the distant horizon. From time to time, silvery-white schools of fish leapt from the water, only to be snatched away by the seagulls circling in the sky.
Most of the seagulls at this moment were wheeling around the ship's mast. The lookout stood on the mast, tossing grains of rice around the seagulls before him—this was probably one of the few amusements he had.
On the deck, Chen Jie lay on a reclining chair, a fishing rod in his hand, fishing in bored idleness.
Once the initial excitement of putting out to sea had passed, what remained was aimless drifting.
