Excerpt from <i>The Committed</i>

We were the unwanted, unneeded, and unseen, invisible to all but ourselves. Less than nothing, we also saw nothing as crouched blindly in unlit belly of our ark, 150 us sweating a space not meant for mammals fish sea. With waves driving from side side, spoke native tongues. For some, this prayer; others, curses. When change motion shuttled vessel more forcefully, one few sailors among whispered, We're on ocean now. After hours winding through river, estuary, canal, had departed motherland.The navigator opened hatch called onto deck which uncaring world denigrated merely boat. By lopsided smile crescent moon, ourselves alone surface watery world. moment giddy with delight, until rippling made another way. All over deck, another, turned inside out, even after remained continued heave gasp, wretched retching. In manner passed first night sea, shivering breezes.Dawn broke, every direction only infinitely receding horizon. The day was hot, no shade respite, eat mouthful drink spoonful, length journey unknown rations limited. But eating so little, still left human traces hold, by evening awash own filth. spotted ship near horizon at twilight, screamed hoarse. kept its distance.On third day, came across freighter breaking vast desert dromedary bridge rising stern, deck. screamed, waved, jumped up down. sailed on, touching wake. On fourth fifth days, two cargo ships appeared, each closer before, under different flag. pointed us, matter how much begged, pleaded, held children, neither swerved nor slowed.On children died, before offered her body priest said prayer. sixth boy died. Some prayed fervently God; some began doubting His existence; who did believe Him to; disbelieved strongly. father dead cried, My God, why are You doing us?And it struck then, answer humanity's eternal question Why?It was, is, simply this: Why not?Strangers clambered aboard now intimate lovers, wallowing waste, faces green, skin blistered salt baked into same sun. Most fled motherland because communists charge labeled puppets, or pseudopacifists, bourgeois nationalists, decadent reactionaries, intellectuals false conscience, related these. There fortune teller, geomancer, monk, priest, least prostitute, whose Chinese neighbor spat said, is whore us? Even unwanted there that could laugh.The prostitute scowled What do you want?We, wanted much. food, water, parasols, although umbrellas would be fine. clean clothes, baths, toilets, squatting kind, since land safer less embarrassing clinging bulwark rolling boat one's posterior hanging edge. rain, clouds, dolphins. cooler during hot warmer freezing night. an estimated time arrival. rescued being barbecued unrelenting television, movies, music, anything pass time. love, peace, justice, except enemies, whom burn Hell, preferably eternity. independence freedom, communists, should sent reeducation, life. benevolent leaders represented people, them, whoever they were. live society equality, if settle owning neighbor, revolution overturn just lived through. sum, want nothing!What most certainly storm, yet what got seventh day. faithful once cried help us! nonfaithful bastard! Faithful unfaithful, way avoid dominating surging closer. Whipped frenzy, wind gained momentum, grew, ark speed altitude. Lightning illuminated dark furrows storm thunder overwhelmed collective groan. A torrent rain exploded propelled ever higher unfaithful cursed, both wept. Then reached peak and, moment, perched snow-capped crest precipice. Looking down deep, wine-colored valley awaiting certain things. absolutely going die! And second almost live!Yes, sure it. We-will-live!And then plunged, howling, abyss.