About a week after they had come back, a load of mail came to the island. They were the first letters the men had received in several weeks, and for a night it relieved the changeless pattern of their lives. One of the infrequent rations of beer was given out the same night, and the men finished their three cans quickly, and sat about without saying very much. The beer had been far too inadequate to make them drunk; it made them only moody and reflective, it opened the gate to all their memories, and left them sad, hungering for things they could not name.
After returning to the island, the men received their first letters in weeks, which brought a brief respite to their monotonous existence. The arrival of these letters provided a much-needed distraction, allowing them to momentarily escape the routine of their daily lives. That same night, they were also given a rare allowance of beer, which they consumed quickly, leading to an atmosphere of quiet contemplation rather than celebration.
The inadequate amount of beer did not intoxicate them but instead induced a reflective mood. It stirred memories and feelings within them, awakening a deep sense of longing for things they could not articulate. This combination of nostalgia and sadness left them feeling more isolated, highlighting the profound emotional burdens they carried amidst their difficult circumstances.
