How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
In my mind, I looked at the line and it was like looking over the edge of a cliff and falling. Falling and falling and falling. Straight into the bottomless sea. (6.32)
As his family departs for a year at sea, Ben seems afraid. What about this makes him so nervous?
Quote #2
Gerry clung to the lifelines, moving so slowly that I had the sail hanked on and was raising it before he sat down in the companionway, frightened and chilled. (7.35)
Poor Gerry is extremely afraid of the water. This is unfortunate considering he's spending an entire year at sea.
Quote #3
I squatted down in front of Gerry and looked him in the eye. I couldn't tell if the water on his face was ocean or tears. "Which was scarier, Gerry—the fish or Dad?" (11.56)
Wow. You know you're in trouble when you're not sure if drowning is scarier than your own father.
Quote #4
I lost the ability to think. I wanted to call Dylan up to tell him […] What was the point anyway? I would just be telling him so I would have somebody else be as scared as I was. (25.1)
Ben tries to protect his younger brothers from his fear. It never really works, though.
Quote #5
I couldn't move. I just stared at him. He was twice as big as I was, and he took up the whole ocean between the dinghy and me. I needed to surface to breathe or to swim away or to climb the coral-crusted side of the rock. But I could not move. (35.12)
Sometimes fear can make you do something heroic. Other times, it just roots you to the spot when you're about to get eaten by a shark.
Quote #6
I knew exactly where Dylan was, and my throat closed in while my feet started pounding straight up the hill. (37.27)
As Ben searches for Dylan, he's terrified about what he might find.
Quote #7
I couldn't look up. It would have been too scary. (37.51)
Ben has to overcome his own fear to save his brother, Dylan.
Quote #8
"Something new is wrong. What is it?" Tears stood suddenly along the bottom curve of his eyes. A dagger of ice pierced me. (38.11)
Dylan's usually pretty stoic. When he starts to cry, Ben knows that his condition is really serious. Scary stuff.
Quote #9
Gerry picked up his stick and broke it in half. "I'm scared, Ben." "Me too, Gerry." (38.110-38.111)
Ben isn't one of those guys who never admits when he's afraid. Here, he tells his brother fear is just a natural response to a bad situation.
Quote #10
"Once upon a time, there was a man who was afraid. … The man had a choice. He could close his door, learn not to think of her, and stay lonely. Or he could go outside and jump. He jumped." (42.32)
Ben's dad describes having children as one of the scariest things he's ever done. It was a leap of faith.