West Wind Drift

A heavily laden passenger liner sets out from a South American port bound for a distant harbor but mysteriously disappears in the Atlantic, prompting extensive naval searches and speculation about enemy action, sabotage, or an internal explosion. The narrative introduces the aging captain Weatherby Trigger, an international crew, and a cosmopolitan complement of passengers and sketches the ship's wartime cargo and secret registration. As official inquiries conclude the vessel lost, the story shifts to the unfolding events aboard during days of calm drift, limited navigation, and the practical and emotional responses of those on board as they face uncertainty.