Chapters 3 - 6 Summary

Chapter 3: On April 6, 1942, at around three a.m., the S.S. Hato is torpedoed. Phillip's mother is uncharacteristically calm as she helps him into his life jacket. They follow the emergency procedures which the captain has drilled into them throughout the voyage. The back of the ship is on fire and the captain hurries everyone efficiently into lifeboats. As the first lifeboats are launched, Phillip sees pools of burning oil on the surface of the water. The lifeboat carrying Phillip and his mother is lowered toward the oil-slicked sea. Before the boat hits the water, the Hato lurches suddenly, tipping everyone on the lifeboat into the sea. Something falls from the Hato and hits Phillip on the head.

Phillip awakes four hours later with a terrible headache. An accented voice greets him, calling him young boss, or "'Young bahss"' (pg...