The Great Wide Sea Chapter 20 Summary

  • On the third day, Ben wakes up with a start. He knows something's not right.
  • It's 8:00 a.m. Ben missed his watch. Dad never woke him up.
  • Ben heads above deck, trying to steel himself for his father's anger. But the cockpit is empty and the boat's on autopilot.
  • Ben looks around for his father. He can't find him anywhere. The emergency pack is gone, too.
  • He continues to search the boat. No dad. There's nowhere he could be hiding, really.
  • Dylan wakes up and Ben tells him the situation. They decide they won't wake Gerry.
  • Now Dylan searches the boat. Still no dad.
  • Ben turns the boat back around, but it's impossible to chart the same course. At this point they seem to recognize that Dad is not on the boat.
  • Dylan searched Dad's room and found a letter to their mother. Oh dear. That can't be a good sign.