Denethor grumbled as he was helped into the speedboat. This was absolutely humiliating!

The natives of the island had turned out to be 'friendly', according to the captain of the cruise ship, but Denethor called them rude and hostile. They hadn't offered him anything to drink, or even a chair to sit in while they waited for the lifeboat to come. So the high, esteemed, good-looking, and very humble Denethor had to sit in the sand –in the sand!– while they waited.

Then finally, when the cruise attendants had come around with drinks, the only thing left was hot chocolate. Didn't they know he was sweltering in the heat? He was the high, distinguished Steward! If he was caught sweating, it would be the end of his career!

So he'd barked at them to get him a glass of water, and they surprisingly obliged. He'd spewed it out as soon as he tasted it – saltwater! He swore, if these had been his servants, they would have been lit on fire & pushed off the ledge– Denethor's favorite way of killing.

But the nightmare was all over now. He was safe in the Gondor Coastguard's speedboat, speeding towards the shores of Gondor. [He was the only passenger on the speedboat– he'd made sure of that.] They wouldn't get there until the next day, the coastguard had explained, but they had enough fuel to last them a long time, so they were fine.

Denethor settled himself down in his chair– he'd made sure he got the cushy chair– and closed his eyes. But he was only resting them. After all, Stewards don't take naps.