Pi endures another miserable night on the raft as heavy rain and shifting winds keep soaking him. The noise of the rain and sea unnerves him, and he repeatedly checks the knots and lashings that tie the raft to the lifeboat, fearing the raft will break apart or sharks will attack.

As the storm strengthens, the sea grows rougher and waves wash completely over the low-floating raft. Pi cannot keep any part of his body dry, and he shivers through the night, trying to protect a small area around his chest where he keeps the survival manual.

Pi forces himself to drink from the rain-catching device even though he is not thirsty, recognizing the importance of fresh water. The collected water initially tastes of rubber from the equipment, but soon clears as the rain rinses it clean.

Through the long, cold hours, Pi fixates on Richard Parker and begins plotting how to get rid of the tiger so the lifeboat can be his alone. Pi considers and rejects several options—pushing Richard Parker overboard, injecting him with morphine, or attacking him with tools—because each seems impossible or suicidal.

Pi briefly imagines choking Richard Parker with rope and also thinks about poisoning, burning, or electrocuting him, but lacks a workable method. Pi settles on a “war of attrition,” believing Richard Parker will eventually die from lack of food and especially water, and this thought gives Pi a fragile but real hope to survive.