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ed it for some time。 It was a freighter。 We attacked with torpedoes； but the warships lying in your harbor were alerted by the flares and caught us from behind。 I was on deck at the time； along with the man I've already mentioned。 We were swept off in the crash dive。。。〃 He paused； staring out toward the sea。
〃What happened to the boat？〃
〃I don't know；〃 the German whispered。 〃Or rather I should say； I'm not certain。〃 He drank from his glass。 〃The subchasers circled the area in which the boat had gone down； and they began to release their charges。 Their Asdic and sensor devices had targeted my boat and they hammered at it； hour after hour。 All this I was forced to observe from the deck of one of the British ships after I'd been hauled into a dinghy。 The sea boiled like a volcanic crater； vomiting up sand and coral and fish blown to pieces。 I thought about the men inside the U…boat； hoping to find safety beneath tons of water。
〃A depth…charge attack is a savage thing； Mr。 Moore。 You hear the iron bend under the detonations； and you pray to God it will not bend too much and that the rivets will stay sealed。 A thread of water bursting through a pin…hole break can cut a man's head off at the greater depths； and a rivet can ricochet like a bullet； pass through flesh and bone and metal bulkheads。 And the noise。。。 the thundering shriek of underwater explosions； the squeal of an iron plate； the sound of the Asdic beams like handfuls of gravel tossed against the sides of the boat。〃 He shuddered and looked away。 〃But you must not make a sound。 You must hold back your fear and the screams that threaten to burst from your throat。 Because if you scream the men with earphones at their stations perhaps three hundred feet above will hear you； and they will send more charges tumbling down to seek you out。 It is a vicious game； a war of taut nerves； when water bees the enemy instead of the protector and a single cry can seal your death warrant。
〃For two days the British subchasers kept up their attack； they knew they had the boat trapped； and though there were long periods of silence the explosions always resumed。 They dropped what seemed like a thousand depth charges； then waited for the sound of a cough； or a rattling bucket； or the hissing of breath through clenched teeth； or the shrill scream of imploding iron。〃 His eyes were wild； and they unnerved Moore。 〃But the U…boat never surfaced。 There was some oil； but nothing to indicate a direct hit。 From what I could understand the British Asdic had lost the boat； as if it had suddenly vanished； but they were still certain it remained down there。 Somewhere。〃
Moore remembered his dive vividly in that moment…the mountain of sand and coral； and the jagged remnants of what had once been an underwater ledge overhead。 Perhaps the U…boat mander had tried to escape the enemy by rising along the Abyss wall； instead of sinking lower； and then had lodged the submarine beneath that ledge to hide from the sensors。 And perhaps at the same instant a crewman had operated a lever that had delivered pressed air to the buoyancy tanks。 The concussions had caused the ledge to collapse； burying the submarine under tons of sand。 That would account for its disappearance。 Then the men would have been imprisoned； waiting hour after hour for the air to give out； as the gases and the stench collected and suffocated them。 When enough sand had shifted away from the hulk； aided by the hurricane and that final charge blast； the remaining pressed air had lifted the U…boat。
〃In time；〃 Schiller was saying quietly； 〃the subchasers gave up their hunt。 I was questioned and put into prison where I remained until the war's end。 I returned to Germany； to Berlin。 I remember walking the streets to my parents' house。 There was hardly anything left。 A lone chimney； the front wall and door still standing like a facade。 And across the door； in bright…red paint； someone had scrawled 'The Schiller Family Is Dead。'〃 He blinked； looking away from the other man。 〃They'd been killed in an air raid。〃
〃I'm sorry。〃
〃No； no。 It was war； you see。〃 He finished the rum and put the glass down。 〃Where is the boat now？〃
〃In the yard。〃
Schiller smiled grimly and nodded。 〃Strange； isn't it； how the fates work？ Perhaps； after all this time； my boat has a destiny still。〃
〃Destiny？〃 Moore was taken aback by his use of the word。 〃What do you mean？〃
Schiller shrugged。 〃Where will the hulk go？ Some maritime museum？ Or even the British Museum itself？ It's a possibility； I would think。 So my boat is not yet dead after all； is it？ Perhaps it will sit in a huge hall of warfare on a linoleum floor surrounded by great artillery pieces and even an old； battle…torn Panzer tank。 Further down the exhibit there will be a shining Spitfire； or perhaps a reconditioned Junkers。 It will be a place for old men to e and relive their days of glory as they slip toward senility； young people will e too； but they'll fail to understand any of it； and they'll laugh and point and wonder how any of this ancient junk could ever have been useful at all。〃
〃Useful！〃 Moore snorted。
Schiller stared at him for a long time； then finally dropped his gaze。 Yes； the man was probably right。 Now it could only be a battered； rusted shade of what it once had been； filled with seawater and ghosts。
〃In March of 1942；〃 he said； in a voice so low Moore could barely hear him； 〃it was the most awesome weapon I had ever beheld。 I saw it at night； after I'd been transferred from another boat； and the lights in Kiel harbor where it was moored burned a dim yellow to save power。 The mist had e in from the sea； and it hung over the boat in thick gray strands； the diesels were in operation； their noise echoing across the water； making the pilings tremble under my feet。 I watched the mist being drawn in through the diesel intakes along the superstructure。 From where I stood the periscope towers seemed to vanish into the sky； there were men already at work on the decks； and through the open forward hatch a column of smoky white light filtered out。 It was a magnificent sight； preparing for sea duty。 I can never forget it； nor do I wish to。 Yet。。。 I suppose now the boat is nothing。〃
Moore sat there a moment longer； then walked across the room to refill his glass。 Outside； the clouds were heavy in the early evening sky and lights were ing on in some of the village houses。 The breeze had quieted； and through the screened door Moore saw a sudden flash on the distant horizon； perhaps heat lightning or a storm crawling across the earth's curve。 He didn't want darkness to fall tonight。 If only he could keep the light from fading； so he would be reassured of a measure of safety。 His eyes scanned the jungle's dark folds。 They were out there； he didn't know how many； but they were out there。 Waiting。
〃I didn't mean to go on about the boat；〃 Schiller said。 〃It's ancient history。 But； you see； that's all I have left。〃
〃The crew；〃 Moore said suddenly； turning to face the German。 〃Something's happened。。。〃 He stopped； and Schiller leaned forward slightly。
〃What about them？〃
Moore paused； wondering what to say。 It was madness to think the man w