In the Caribbean, during World War II, the oil refineries became more important in the war effort. Oil and gas absolutely had to be shipped out so that the Allied forces could continue to power themselves and their vehicles—the planes and ships that would fight the war.
As Phillip, the narrator of The Cay, explains, he enjoys watching the tankers go in and out of the harbor, and the gas and oil they conveyed were shipped as far as England and the African desert.
The danger comes, however, when enemy vessels use torpedoes and shells to attack the ships carrying the gas and oil, destroying these resources along with human lives, and preventing them from getting to the opposing Allied forces. Enemy forces also block incoming ships, meaning that the people in the Caribbean had limited access to a fresh water supply. A shortage of fresh water, of course, also makes life difficult for Phillip's family and the other island inhabitants.
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