The short story "Dream Cargoes" by J.G. Ballard follows a young soldier named Johnson, who is aboard an ill-fated sea vessel carrying chemical waste products. The ship encounters a hurricane in the middle of the sea. The ship is named "the Prospero," and the captain is Captain Galloway. The ship is facing inclement weather, and the leaking chemicals are destroying the boat. Galloway and the First Officer Pereira decide to abandon the sinking vessel by means of lifeboats. Johnson, who reflects on having spent much of his life either washing dishes for little pay or sitting idly in school and learning little, decides that this is his opportunity to take command of the ship. He resolves to stay on board, and he sleeps in Captain Galloway's former bed, which is filled with empty bottles alcohol.

As Johnson is reliving this event in his dream, he is awakened by Christine Chambers, an American biologist doing research on the island where Johnson is stuck. Johnson self-righteously claims to have deliberately beached his (dilapidated) lifeboat on the island for "repairs," but Christine sees through his ruse. Johnson maintains the story that he is the captain of the ship. Christine explains that the original ship seems to have gone down and that no one is looking for it. She is polite and offers some of her sandwich to Johnson. Christine then explains that the unique growth on the island is caused by the organophosphates that have leaked. She eagerly explains that the reaction is unprecedented.

The story fast-forwards to four months later, when Christine is pregnant with his child. They are continuing to experiment on the wildlife and animals on the island. Johnson eats a piece of fruit and becomes confused, losing his sense of time. At her wit's end and afraid for Johnson, Christine radios the US Navy and asks to be transported back to the mainland. Hallucinating, Johnson jumps overboard, convinced that he will be able to save the birds and fly.