Part 3/9:
His solitude is interrupted when he encounters another nomad. Despite a tense initial interaction, a robbery ensues, leading the Mariner on a high-stakes chase to reclaim his belongings. The ensuing conflict introduces the essential element of survival in this water-logged universe: treachery and theft are commonplace among those fighting for sustenance.
Discovering the Atoll
After a series of encounters with a group known as the smokers who dominate the waters, the Mariner reaches an atoll—a floating community that embodies the last vestige of civilization. Here, he learns of the intricacies of the society that thrives despite their dire circumstances. In an exchange for dirt—an extremely rare commodity—he is granted temporary access to the atoll.