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〃My son；〃 he said softly； speaking to Moore。 〃He'll be the next Chief Father； after I'm gone。 He'll rule justly and fairly； and he'll be strong； and he'll never know fear because fear eats the insides out of a man and leaves him weak and crying out in the middle of the night。 No。 Keth will be free and unafraid； and he'll grow straight and unscarred。〃 He returned the baby to his mother； whispered to her； and kissed her on the cheek。 When he drew back； Jana saw a solitary tear streaking his wife's face； but her eyes remained strong and cool； full of courage。 Without looking at her again； Cheyne took up the shotgun； picked up one of the oil lamps； and strode through the door。
His wife ran out after him。 The old woman struggled from her chair and stood balanced precariously； like a frail thing of straw； in the doorway。 She turned her head toward Moore； her eyes swimming。 〃Help him；〃 she whispered。
Moore stood up and made his way out the door。 The rain was still falling； but not as heavily as before。 The Carib woman stood watching her man disappear toward the harbor。 Moore could see dozens of lanterns and flashlights moving down there； each one a spot of yellow in the rain's veil。 He wiped the drops from his eyes。
After another moment Jana joined him； the old woman； her clothes soaked； came and put her arm around the wife's waist； pulling at her。 Widows of the sea； he thought； watching them。 Widows？ No； no。 Not yet。 They began to walk back through the mud to the chief's house。 〃Why？〃 Moore asked the old woman as they passed him。
There was a hard certainty； perhaps even a wisdom on her face； that rooted him to the spot。 〃His destiny；〃 she answered； and then she and Cheyne's wife were gone。
Destiny。 Destiny。 Destiny。 The word drove into his brain； exploded into a thousand steel fragments there。 He remembered the transom of a broken boat thrashed by the sea： Destiny's Child。 There was nothing he could have done then except be pulled along by the swift and hidden currents of his own destiny； no matter how hard he fought against it； not understanding why。 He was unable to win the fight because life is like the sea； and its powers pull a man into the deep and mysterious Abyss of his own future。
Perhaps the Night Boat's returning to the surface had only been a matter of time； perhaps he had only speeded the inevitable。 Now as he looked back on the chain of deaths and destruction； he saw them as part of the chain of events that had brought him around the world and left him here； in this place of all places； standing in a harsh tropical rain。 Cheyne was right； he realized： There was nothing to prevent the things from returning for more supplies and more lives。 Years ago； on another day of storm； when the earth had closed over him； something inside had given way。 Part of him had died then； making him like those tortured things that crewed the boat； out of place and time； caught in the clutch of a destiny that had hidden itself until now。 Only in the past few days had it given him a sharp； terrifying look at what lay ahead。
He loved this island； these people； for good or for bad。 He loved them like the family he had lost。 And with God's help or without it； he must not； could not； would not lose another to the dark； sudden upheaval of his fate。
〃I'm going to help him；〃 he heard himself say。
Jana clutched at his arm as he started to push past her。 She wiped the rain out of her eyes and shook her head。 〃He's out of his mind； David！ If he finds the U…boat they'll cut his trawler in two！ He won't e back； and he knows he won't！〃
A white…hot flame had begun to burn in his muscles。 We are born alone and we must face death alone。 Who said that？ A philosophy instructor； ages ago； in a college classroom of another world。 Everyone must die； Cheyne had said； whether in pain or at peace。 He knew there was a high chance of losing his life； but he accepted it。 He would take that chance； clench it in his fist； dare the dark gods； because he had seen the end of his voyage； a brief vision that had filled his head and then vanished。 He had seen the knife…blade bow of the Night Boat waiting。
He pulled free of Jana and began to walk through the mud down the winding road to the harbor； where he could still see the flashlights moving。
Cheyne's weather…beaten fishing trawler rubbed up against a tire…browed wharf。 It was the largest of the Carib fleet； perhaps a shade more than fifty feet from stem to stern； with a wide； low…slung hull。 Most of the hull paint had been flayed off and there were some patches； but they were all well above the marked discoloration of the waterline。 A broad cabin； painted maroon； with several metal…rimmed portholes stood just aft of amidships。 Naked masts； their sails tightly furled； pointed at the sky as the rain dripped off the rigging。 At the stern there were booms and hoists； a pile of nets； and a few metal drums strewn about。 It seemed a stocky； seaworthy boat； with her spoon bow and pulpit giving her a clean； sharp line。
As Moore approached he could see the faded image of a name that had once been painted in red on the transom board： Pride。 The sea swelled underneath it； lifting the boat up and nuzzling the tires； timbers creaked and groaned and there was a dull thud as water broke under the bow。
Several bare…chested Caribs moved on the after deck； some of them clearing nets and cables away。 Water spilled from a duct at the stern； the pumps had been started up。 One of the men carried a bundle of something wrapped in clear plastic but Moore couldn't see what it was。 He waited as another man opened the cabin doorway and vanished within。
〃Where's Cheyne？〃 Moore shouted to the man nearest him。
The Carib looked up with a sullen expression； then turned his back on Moore and continued moving a heavy metal drum。
〃Hey！〃 Moore grasped a wharf piling and leaned over； speaking to another man further down the deck。 〃Hey！ Get Cheyne out here！〃
But then the cabin doorway opened again； the man who had carried in the bundle came out； followed by Cheyne； who was giving him orders in a clipped； brusque tone。 Cheyne saw Moore and came over to the starboard gunwale。 〃What are you doing here？〃 he asked； his gaze dangerous。 〃I told you to get away！〃
〃I want to go with you；〃 Moore told him。
Cheyne was silent for a few seconds。 Then he said； 〃Go back home； white man。 This isn't for you。〃 He turned away。
Moore gestured wildly。 〃Wait！ Please。 You won't understand； but it's important to me。 I won't be in the way； and I can hold my own with any of your crew； I used to be a sailor。 I can handle myself。〃
〃Why？〃 the Carib asked him。
〃I。。。 want to be there；〃 Moore said。 〃I want to make sure the boat doesn't e back。 Let me go。〃
〃You're crazy；〃 Cheyne said。
〃No。 I found the bastard and caused it to e up。 If it wasn't for me there'd be no death on Coquina tonight。 Don't you see？ I've got to be there； and I have a right to help stop that thing。。。 maybe even more than you。〃
Cheyne grunted。 〃No； not more than me。〃
〃How about it？〃 Moore persisted； disregarding the Carib's remark。
Cheyne examined him cautiously。 He reached out and grasp