But without question Mackenzie stripped down to his underwear and stepped up to the side of the boat. He peered down at the water, taking deep breaths, over and over, oxygenating his body. He entered the water with a perfect dive and disappeared from view.

Ahab sensed Forest’s glare.

‘You have something to say, boy?’

‘That was cruel,’ said Forest. ‘You know how deep it is right here?’

‘The question that sits at the heart of a man is always the same: am I a true man?’ Ahab watched the water. ‘Am I strong enough? Brave enough? Mackenzie’s father chose to answer that question for him long ago – even worse, he shared that answer with anyone who would listen – and Mackenzie has held on to it ever since. To undo that, he has to be given a different trial.’

‘You don’t need a trial to prove yourself a man.’

‘Of course you do. A boy isn’t a man because he doesn’t yet know the important things a man needs to know. To be a man is to be useful, and to be useful is to put into practice everything you’ve ever learned. That’s why I’m not going to set him a task as chancy as catching a fish. He needs to be measured by what he’s learned, and Mackenzie is one of the best divers I’ve ever seen.’

‘He doesn’t need to pass a test to prove he’s a man,’ said Forest again.

‘Every culture in the world has an initiation rite for passage into manhood,’ said Ahab stubbornly.

‘Whatever, old man,’ said Forest. He peered over the edge. ‘He’s been down there a long time.’

‘It’s not so far down,’ said Ahab.

‘What if he can’t find it?’ said Forest.

‘He will,’ said Ahab.

‘And if he can’t?’

‘He will,’ insisted Ahab.

The boat rose and fell with the surge of the swell, creaking . . .

‘He’s not gonna make it,’ said Forest.

A bubble surfaced, and then Mackenzie followed, gasping for breath. He coughed and spluttered, reaching for the ladder.

‘Did you find it?’ said Forest.

Mackenzie shook his head, sucking in air.

‘Tell him to come back up, Ahab,’ said Forest. ‘Tell him.’

‘Try again, son,’ said Ahab.

Mackenzie nodded, shivering in the water, and dived under.

Forest pulled his scuba vest back on. ‘I’m going down to help him.’

‘Don’t you dare.’ Ahab’s voice cracked across the deck. ‘He won’t thank you.’

‘He’s going to drown trying to impress you!’

‘Boy, he’s trying to impress everyone. He’s trying so hard it’s killing him.’

‘Then why are you feeding into it?’ said Forest.

‘A man needs a witness. Someone to whom he can prove he’s a man. Otherwise, he’ll always question it.’

‘That just sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy, Ahab,’ he said.