That flag... That's a pirate flag, right? On a pirate ship? And those yellow swirly things must be... Jeff squints. Gold? Like it represents all the gold they're gonna get?

Is he about to get rescued and/or captured by pirates?

"Right on..." he whispers, somehow finding it in him to feel some awe in this moment, in spite of everything.

As soon as the rope lands before him, Jeff reaches out to cling to it, trying to remember all those stupid rope climbing exercises from gym class. Whyyyyy did he skip so many times? How dare PE come back to bite him in the ass.

"A-- hey! Hi! I'm, um. Alive? I think?" Like it's a trick question.