We were deep in the South Atlantic, a Blue Star ore carrier crawling toward Brazil to pick up iron ore. Heat sat on the deck like a punishment, and the days stretched into nothing. I was a Deck Officer Apprentice with too much time and not enough supervision. One afternoon, out of sheer boredom, I unhooked the safety catch on a piece of equipment with my toe and sent it straight over the side. Watched it sink without a flicker of guilt. They hauled me in front of the First Officer, stripped a few privileges, lectured me about discipline. None of it mattered. I was restless, angry, convinced everyone aboard was laughing at me behind my back. The senior apprentice and First Mate shared private jokes and glanced my way, and something inside me twisted. That was the first time I felt it ' the impulse to prove I could break something bigger than myself.