Two tales of the sea: The boat story

The fact that the entire country had lost its grip - lost its heartbeat - wasn't immediately evident on the outside. On the outside a thin mantle of grey cladding held everything in check with the veneer of order and efficiency. The tarred-over suburban streets, the reflective sheen of the shopping malls, the slick sameness of the TV programs, the silky efficiency of the business suits - all had a polish that held the groaning oldness of the land itself hostage...