Pi watches the last sign of the sinking Tsimtsum—a glimmering patch of oil—and convinces himself rescue must already be mobilizing around the world. Believing help will arrive within hours, Pi focuses on surviving long enough to be found, imagining a ship on the horizon and even a weapon to end the animals’ suffering.

From the bow, Pi reaches for the nylon net and rolls it up, tossing it onto the tarpaulin as a small barrier. Orange Juice remains largely motionless, which Pi reads as shock, possibly fatal. Pi worries most about the hidden hyena and hopes the zebra and orangutan will distract it from attacking him.

As the morning continues, Pi keeps alternating his attention between the horizon and the far end of the lifeboat. The hyena’s whining grows into a scream, and the animal suddenly bursts into view, scrambling over the injured zebra and onto the stern bench. Startled by the open sea, the hyena drops into the cramped space behind the zebra, then quickly darts back under the tarpaulin, coming within about fifteen feet of Pi and freezing him with fear.

The hyena reappears and begins running frantic, repetitive counterclockwise laps around the boat’s benches, yipping shrilly as the lifeboat shakes under its pounding feet. Pi, unable to react beyond tense watching, fears the hyena could change course and charge straight at him, since the net and rolled tarpaulin would not stop it. The animal periodically pauses to stare at Pi with feverish strain, then resumes its relentless circling.

Pi reflects on what he knows of hyenas—ugly in appearance but formidable, persistent hunters at night with indiscriminate appetites and powerful jaws—making the threat feel even more chilling. Eventually the hyena stops, groans and pants, then abruptly vomits behind the zebra and crawls into the mess. Shaking and whining, the hyena remains wedged in the space behind the zebra for the rest of the day, while the zebra lies mostly silent and defeated.