The ship sailed the vast ocean near what used to be Southern Australia before it was flooded into oblivion consequence of the ice melting. Although its pace was slow, the steam further polluted the already darkening skies, poisoning whatever unfortunate bird happened to fly by.

The deck was full with young blood with a few whose age spoke of their experience. There was a reason for inexperienced, naïve men to want to come to the sad business catching sharks and swordfishes had become. The land was now a place of constant riots with scarce food and plaguing illnesses – every man wanted rid of it and sought salvation in the oceans which were no better. The older crew let the boys join for motives of their own.

All the bustling bodies stopped their work when their captain, David, walked the deck and looked at him with anticipation in their eyes for he was the person who was not only responsible for their lives but also for the wealth they would be taking home. However, with the state of the waters – oceanic gyres amounting more than the earth human beings inhabited – there was hardly a good catch to take back.

When David stopped on the poop deck, the first mate, Bean scurried to him and they began discussing the current state of affairs.

"There ain't no proper bait to lure them sharks out captain, it's all getting taken away by them plastic in the water, it's a complete waste every time..." Bean was hesitant in his report to his captain because the harsh conditions pressured him the most. The old haggard man sighed, knowing full well what will follow. Even more hesitant, Bean continued, "we... we gotta do it again."

David pinched the skin between his eyebrows and closed his eyes in concentration but was interrupted by a young recruit who still had life and hope in his eyes and body.

"Captain, sir! I am sorry I overheard but why can't we throw those slabs of meat we have in the back? The kind Bean here throws to lure the big ones out?" The captain eyed the boy. He knew that the great white shark was an animal not interested in human flesh, but praying for some alteration in its behaviour having only plastic as food, David was willing to gamble, for which reason precisely, he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and started conversation.

"What's your name, son?"

"It's Sam, sir! Short for Samuel!" This boy was healthy.

"Alright Sammy, why don't you go back in your cabin, I will send someone to prepare you and you will lure the white death out today."

"Thank you Captain!" The boy was overjoyed, being given such an important task on his very first time on the ship, running off excitedly, and not a moment had passed that David turned to his first mate.

"Send the butcher...in Sam's cabin..."

"But he so young..."

"Young he is aye..." started the Captain walking away, and finished in just above a whisper, "and fresh."

~