Chapters 31-35

Harry reflects on how important Miles is to him after he sees a picture of George’s brother who was lost in the war. The sibling bond is fundamental to the novel. The idea that siblings stretch to make up for deficits in the parents is noble but the text ultimately shows that there is no substitution for genuine nurturing as the characters are still searching for security.

After a long day at work, Miles naps in the car on the way home and has a dream of the night his mother was going to take him and flee. The dream is interrupted as they come across Harry walking home. The two show their natural reaction immediately, the father flying into a rage and Miles keen to see if Harry is alright.

After a night in which Harry witnesses the southern lights and reflects on nature’s beauty, Mr Curren intervenes in the early hours of the morning. Still furious about Harry wandering around he demands Harry join them in the boat. Harry asks Miles to try and persuade the father to let him stay home. Miles collects some warm clothes for Harry and they set out with Dad. Harry is afraid of the water and his father does not care, ignoring his tears. Miles, as always, tries to comfort Harry. Harry’s relationship with water is almost a premonition of his fate. Miles gives Harry the shark tooth to soothe him.

Jeff meets them at the wharf and tells them the sea is wild. Much like their father. They see Mr Roberts but cannot wave because their father is there and he is unable to tolerate Mr Roberts since he had become successful. This scene of the boys entering the boat while Mr Roberts watches on is typical of how some young people who are in desperate need of out of home support fail to receive it due to constraining social conditions.

On the boat, Miles tells Harry a local story about one of the islands. The story about a woman who fled to live alone is a stark contrast to most people’s desire to get away from rugged community. The story is interrupted as Miles realises the engine has stopped and the air flow to Dad and Jeff has been interrupted. He tries desperately to restart the engine. The enormity of the pressure and responsibility on such a young person is apparent.

Chapters 31–35 Quote

Harry leaned his head back against the chair and thought that if Miles got lost, if Miles never came home, Harry’s insides would go wrong and they might never come right again. If Miles got lost. Chapter 31

Chapters 36–40

Mr Curren and Jeff make it to the surface but have blood coming from their face, a sign that they were oxygen-deprived and have surfaced too quickly. The father is furious and immediately turns his rage to Miles. He knocks Miles overboard and as Miles tries to climb aboard he is held down by his father. This unnatural act is only interrupted by Harry. Harry kicks and fights his father then calls for help on the radio. Aware that they are illegally fishing in protected waters, Mr Curren is further enraged. The selfishness in his concern for his own wellbeing to avoid a fine in contrast to his murderous rage at the boys is stark. Mr Curren turns to Harry and notices the shark tooth. It belonged to uncle Nick and he remembers that his brother had betrayed him and was leaving with his wife. Harry responds that he is glad. The bottled rage is unleashed. He pushes Harry overboard.

As Miles attempts to reach Harry he is held back by his deranged father who explains that he took Nick’s body from the car wreck that night so nobody would know. As he tells Miles that Miles is his son, the implication that Harry is Nick’s child is reinforced. Although this gives us insight into the torturous state of the father’s mind, his actions are still inexcusable.

Miles breaks free and selflessly jumps into the sea to find Harry. After grabbing the small boy he attempts to swim toward the nearby island. He struggles with the waves until they come to a more calm place but Miles is overcome by the temperature and drifts out of consciousness. He hears Harry tell him that he is no longer afraid of water; a sign that the youngest sibling has found peace at last.

This sentiment of peace is reiterated as Harry is transported in a vision of a perfect day. He is chasing the puppy Jake. George is there and it is sunlit and dreamlike. He can fly like a bird. Symbolically, returning to the start of the novel, the lone cormorant that Harry was concerned about, lost and injured, is now free.

Chapters 36–40 Quotes

‘It’s his’, he said, and his face went pale. ‘His.’ He let the tooth go. He stared down at Harry.
‘She was leaving, because of him. Because of you.’ (Mr Curren) Chapter 36

But ultimately it wasn’t up to you. This ocean could hold you down for as long as it liked, and Miles knew it. Chapter 37

Chapters 40-43

Miles wakes in hospital and is drifting in and out of consciousness. Joe is there and tells him that they found Harry, and that he looked peaceful. The dreamlike state gives opportunity for memories of the crash night to prevail. Miles remembers clearly that they were packed into the car and that Uncle Nick came with them. He recalls affection between Nick and his mother and Harry. He tells Joe the truth about that evening.

Joe and Miles spend time together at Grandad’s house and visit the current house. Noone knows where their father has gone. The funeral is arranged, George will be there and Stuart. Miles finally breaks down and lets himself cry. His brother is there for him, emphasising the special bond that siblings may share.

The storm has passed, both literally and metaphorically; the devastated landscape symbolic of the destruction in the young boy’s lives. A chance encounter with Mr Robert’s son Justin at a surf spot returns Miles to a simpler time, part of a now missed childhood. Miles can feel his mother and Harry with him like when they used to wait for him in the car with fish and chips.

The boys and George have their own private moment on the beach reflecting on their shared affection for Harry and returning some of his beach treasures to the sand. Without the presence of the father the scene seems mature and cordial, deep respect and true relationships can flourish. The boys bid George farewell and prepare to start their new adventure on Joe’s boat. Finally, escape.

Chapters 40–43 Quotes

He listened to Joe talk about all the places they would go, the tropical islands and clear warm water, the big bright lights of new cities. The free open space of ocean. And he knew that Joe was going to take him with him, now. Wherever he went. He leaned his head down against his brother’s shoulder. And he let himself cry. (Miles) Chapter 41

Miles let the rip that ran with the bluff carry him. He enjoyed the ride, felt his hands slipping through the cool water, body floating free. And there was this feeling in him like when it had all just been for fun, the water. Chapter 42

Out past the shallows, past the sandy-bottomed bays, comes the dark water—black and cold and roaring. Rolling out an invisible path, a new line for them to follow.
To somewhere warm.
To somewhere new. Chapter 43