52. Jumbled. Sophie writes, in a new entry, that the crew is afraid to sleep—they’re afraid that the nearly fatal wave will return. She also compares her encounter with the wave to being born—in her mother’s womb, safe and sound, suddenly a “huge surge of water broke” on her, forcing her into a compact little package to be forced out of a small space, ending with her lying helpless on her back, attached only by an umbilical cord.
Sophie interestingly makes the connection between the wave and the sensation of being born. Being swept away by water and plopped helplessly on her back resembles the power of the wave which threw her onto the deck. The umbilical cord, which held her safely to her mother, is like the safety harness attaching her to the ship.