Chapter 4 Summary

The atmosphere of New York becomes increasingly unreal to Tom as the days progress. "As if when his boat left the pier on Saturday, the whole city of New York would collapse with a poof like a lot of cardboard on a stage." The only thing that frightens Tom is the water. He has always hated water, perhaps because his parents drowned in Boston Harbor when he was very young. Tom cannot swim.

The only time Tom has really been on a ship was working on a banana boat that sailed from New York to New Orleans and back. The seasickness was not so bad, because he was below deck most of the time. Tom stops by Marc Priminger's house for a few things he forgot. He still has his set of keys. Marc is a remarkably ugly, but wealthy, middle-aged man whose...