Death by Thirst

((The Sea of Japan, 1999) (incident, 1973))


(Presumed, day one, two and three) “I can’t swallow very well; my salivary glands are starting to dry up; I’ve been under the sweltering sun for hours, unaccountable hour’s now. My body is being cooled by the constant cold water tossed over me at pretty many regular intervals. The sound of the smashing waves continually is having its affect on me, sound effects—drumming through my ears, my whole body. The wooden raft I am on is swinging back and forth, like a tugboat in a storm, but there is no storm, similar to a wrestler throwing me everywhichway. There is no way to get dry, no rain to drink. I know I have perhaps five days of life in me.
(Presumed, day, four and five) “The sun still is blazing, the winds being pushed, rolling waves, sharks; I think sharks and sturgeon and hourly prayers. I lay tight against the wood on the raft; my legs hang over the opposite end, near touching the water.
“I am firmly convinced I am doomed. There is no use to put out a great effort; I need my strength to endure. I cannot control the drift of the logged platform.
“I ate some raw fish, but still on this fifth day, I’ve had no water, I am hoping to get a bird to eat. (Later, separated from the other writings)

“Th en I di ed…!”


The question arises how did I come about this account?
When the so called sailor was found drifting (if indeed he was a sailor who’s to say) he had written in ink all over his body—hour after hour—what wasn’t smudged was documented by the Japanese officials, they were all astonished to find a journal written on a human body. And then it was pieced together. It would appear; even under good weather it didn’t help the poor soul, found adrift in the Japanese Sea.
While visiting Japanese friends, near Tokyo, in September, of 1999, I fell upon this story, that supposedly took place in 1973, prior to the end of the Vietnam War; and it was assumed there was a link to that…


No: 476 (9-22-2009)