With tales of rescue in the Mediterranean Sea, the author takes us to where the demagogueries of European politics and dictatorships meet.

"The sea is a mirror broken only by our bow. The sky is overcast, but the sun bright. The ambiance is gunmetal grey. We're out on our last rescue mission before heading back north. I feel nervous, my head full of 'what-ifs' I can imagine after what we've just been through. We lower the swift lifeboats to the water. As we approach, the tension is palpable, people asking us if we're police. We pull out the usual spiel: 'We're here to help.' Our 'guests' are full of live, and unknowingly, they rekindle our own motivation. Some crewmembers say we're not the ones saving them; they're saving us."