‘I caught a mackerel, but . . . I thought it was a tuna. I was so proud, and Dad let me believe it. When Davey caught an actual tuna – it was huge, biggest fish I’d ever seen – I just thought mine was a smaller one.’ There was a clarity in Mackenzie’s eyes, as though this memory were seared in his mind. ‘We came back to shore and I showed my fish to Mum, my “tuna”, and that’s when Davey and Dad started laughing and told me it was only a mackerel. Dad said I didn’t pass the initiation. I wasn’t a man, would never be the man Davey was. Started calling me Mackerel from that day on.’

‘How did that make you feel?’ said Ahab.

Mackenzie shrugged. ‘It’s just a joke.’

‘Not a very funny joke for a little boy,’ said Ahab. ‘Do you tell people the story behind the name?’

‘Yeah,’ said Mackenzie. ‘They always ask.’

‘Your father,’ said Ahab, ‘was a cruel man.’

Mackenzie’s face went red with shame. ‘No, he wasn’t.’

‘And you’ve caught tuna since?’ said Ahab.

‘Oh yeah,’ said Mackenzie. ‘I’ve caught 181 tuna since that day.’ The speed and precision of his response told a whole story in itself, one that Mackenzie couldn’t even see.

There came the sound of scrabbling on the ladder and Forest appeared, pulling his heavy scuba gear up with him. Mackenzie lurched, not realising he’d been out there in the water, then scowled at the boy. Forest gave him no greeting either, but had the good sense to look mildly embarrassed about it.

That’s unlike the boy I’ve seen these last twenty-four hours. Maybe he does have some sort of moral compass . . .

An idea came to Ahab. He held out his hand to Mackenzie. ‘Pass me that gold chain.’

Mackenzie’s hand went to it immediately before he thought to hesitate.

‘What? Why?’

‘Pass it here.’

Mackenzie’s shoulders drooped. He reached around to the back of his neck, unclasped the chain and handed it over to Ahab.

‘I need you to witness this too, Forest,’ said Ahab.

He walked to the rail and held the gold chain out over the water.

‘W-wait a minute,’ choked Mackenzie.

Ahab dropped it.

Mackenzie didn’t have time to react, the chain barely making a sound as it disappeared beneath the surface. He took one step forward, then looked at the deck, cowed. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘My father never made me catch a fish to prove my manhood,’ said Ahab. ‘He was only interested in bravery and determination. So that’s what I’m doing for you now.’

Mackenzie looked back up.

‘Dive down there. Now. No mask, no gear. Bring that gold chain back. Then you’ll have the right to wear it. You’ll reclaim the right to the name on your birth certificate. You’ll be a true man.’

‘Ahab,’ said Forest in disapproval.