Oarsmen

The fleet did not take long to replenish its supplies, but the sailors, Marine Corps soldiers, and oarsmen who rowed belowdecks needed some time ashore. The ships would have to stop for most of the day.

It was also Victor and his companions' first time seeing the oarsmen. Normally, the men were confined to the lowest hold, where they rowed in two shifts. They ate, drank, and relieved themselves down there, under the supervision of dedicated sailors.

Victor watched as the oarsmen came out under escort by sailors and Marine Corps soldiers. They wore short garments, and quite a few were bare-chested. At the shore, they collected food and hot water.

Perhaps because they had spent so long belowdecks without any means of keeping themselves clean, their hair had grown long and thick. Sharp-eyed Victor even noticed that some of them had hair crawling with lice, but that did not stop them from eating.

Before long, a flock of seabirds gathered. They swooped and fluttered around the men, trying to peck at the food in their hands and on their bodies.

The oarsmen had no choice but to keep driving the birds away, much to the amusement of the guards, who roared with laughter.

Once the oarsmen had finished eating, the guards handed them rags and buckets and told them to wash. The men showed no embarrassment. They stripped in front of everyone and jumped naked into the sea for a bath.

Victor and the others watched the whole thing from nearby. Brando found it entertaining at first, but when he realized just how filthy the men were, he had his personal servant take him back to the ship.

Curious, Victor asked Edmund, "Where do these oarsmen come from?"

"Most are prisoners of war taken by our navy. You know