Seagulls flew through the dawn.
The shimmering waves were flecked with gold in the morning glow.
The young Augustus yawned and sat down on the deck as it rocked in the sea breeze.
He was hungry.
Luckily, he had done a good job.
He should get enough to eat today.
Bored out of his mind, Augustus felt the ribs on his chest and counted them one by one for fun.
Someone came out of the cabin, set an earthenware pot before him, and said:
"Eat up, fish boy."
Augustus opened the pot.
Inside were shrimp paste and white rice.
The rice was still steaming.
The young Augustus swallowed, immediately picked up his chopsticks, and went straight for the shrimp paste.
He savored a lick of shrimp paste, then quickly shoveled down a few mouthfuls of rice.
-This was truly the greatest pleasure in the world.
White rice was already quite a treat, let alone shrimp paste, which he only got to eat at New Year.
"Uncle Cheng, why are we eating so well today?"
The boy could not help asking.
The man called Uncle Cheng held a cigarette between his lips and gave him a sidelong look.
"Shit, isn't it because of that dead man you fished out last night? You've hit the jackpot this time, kid."
"I don't understand, Uncle Cheng," Augustus said.
Uncle Cheng spat into the sea before saying:
"Ghost Head Bay has twenty-eight submerged reefs, and countless whirlpools and undercurrents. They say that if you dump a body here, even an immortal would have trouble finding it-"
"But you took one look at the reward notice and fished the corpse right out."
"The big boss heard about your skills today and personally gave the word for you to recover a body at West Tiger Reef."
"As