Okay, that's fair. Malcolm nods. He's really not trying to downplay anything that Undine experienced on the island. "I'm not saying that any of this is okay," he replies, "but I think the captain feeds on misery, in a manner of speaking. If we can't find at least something to hold on to here, then we're all screwed."

It's what he's been telling himself in order to try to keep his mental health at bay. What Undine had to do is something that nobody should have to do, especially not a child.