Capouya, Emile "Staring at the Sun."

This long, rambling story examines that most human of attributes: emotion. Its core is a long story-within-a-story concerning the freighter NORA MASON in the days following the South Pacific Battle of Leyte Gulf with the vessel en route to Melbourne and then her voyage back to the hostilities, laden with munitions and troop replacements. An exciting abandonment at sea after the ship has been hit by a Japanese bomber is followed up with the NORA MASON’s crew retaking their ship after she inexplicably fails to sink. The tale concludes with Capouya’s narrator, the ship’s young 1st Mate, being offered a command of his own.