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〃How about it？〃 Moore persisted； disregarding the Carib's remark。
Cheyne examined him cautiously。 He reached out and grasped Moore's wrist； pulling him over the side before the trawler could heave again。 〃All right；〃 he said。 〃But stay out of my way。〃
The Pride lurched again； a wash of wild foam breaking underneath； and settled back。 When it did； a figure leaped from the wharf； landing solidly on the deck。 Cheyne twisted around and a few of the other men gaped。
Jana pushed her hair back from her face； it lay sodden and stringy across her shoulders。 〃I'm going with you；〃 she said forcefully to the two men。
Before Cheyne could speak she had stepped forward； and he was forced back。 〃Hear me out。 What you want to do is insane； I want you to know that first of all。 I'm a crazy fool for being here； but you'll need me if you're going to try to get the U…boat； even to slow it enough to make a difference。 I know the U…boat inside and out； I know where the armor is weakest； I know where you might be able to ram it to knock out its maneuverability。 I know also that a trawler matched against a U…boat； even one that old and slow； is suicide。 And don't start that bullshit about a woman being bad luck aboard a boat； because I won't stand for it and you'd only be wasting time。〃
Cheyne stared at her； his mouth half…open。 Rain streamed down the scarred side of his face。 〃If either one of you gets in my way you're going over the side； do you understand？ If you're so anxious； help those men with the drums of diesel fuel。 Go on！〃 He threw Jana a withering glance and then made his way back into the wheelhouse。
A hatch into the hold had been thrown open； Moore helped a Carib haul one of the drums across the deck and down into the hold while Jana cast heavy cables out of the way。 It was a nightmare； he thought as he worked； rolling three more drums across the deck； what if they were wrong； and the U…boat wasn't headed for Jamaica after all； but instead toward Trinidad and South America？ No； no； he felt certain that the monstrosity who had once been a military man would； in his rage and blood…lust； take the U…boat prowling for the freighters in the shipping lanes。 But what if they were too late； what if the boat had slipped through the teeth； what if there was no stopping that grisly crew of horrors？
In about forty minutes the boat was buttoned down tight。 A throaty rumble grew from belowdecks； white smoke churned briefly at the exhausts； the hatch was secured。 Some of the Caribs leaped over to the wharf and began to throw off lines。 There was an empty wooden crate at Moore's feet； with the word CAUTION stenciled across it in faded lettering； he kicked it aside。 The other Caribs left the wheelhouse； those at the bow came aft。 As he watched； they left the trawler and stood in the rain watching the Pride leave the wharf when the stern lines were cast off。 One of them raised a hand in a farewell gesture。
〃Cheyne's leaving them！〃 Moore said to Jana。 He made his way to the wheelhouse。
Inside was a roomy cabin with dark…varnished plank bulkheads and a chart table； there was a lighted oil lamp set in a gimbaled fixture at the rear of the wheelhouse。 Overhead were thick； exposed wooden beams； Cheyne's head almost touched them。 The Carib stood over a polished eight…spoked wheel； before a dimly lit instrumentation panel。 A radio receiver sat on a shelf at shoulder level。 Moore said； loudly over the noise of the twin diesels； 〃What about the others？〃
Cheyne did not take his eyes off the sea； which he watched through a wooden…framed windshield。 He moved the wheel a few points to port and foam specked the glass。 〃They are staying behind with their families。 You and the woman asked to e； Moore。 If you've changed your minds you can swim back； both of you。〃
〃You'll need those men！〃
〃I don't ask of any man more than he is willing to give；〃 Cheyne said。 〃Their places are in Caribville with their families。 They helped me prepare and that's all I required of them。〃
〃You can't do this alone；〃 Moore said。
〃I'm not alone。〃
Jana came into the wheelhouse and glanced quizzically at Moore。
A flurry of rain and seawater smashed against glass； the bow rose high； dropped sharply。 Jana grasped an exposed roof beam for support。
〃If you're having second thoughts。。。〃 Cheyne said。
〃I'm not；〃 Moore replied。 He turned to Jana。 〃You shouldn't be here。〃
〃I can take care of myself。〃
Cheyne snorted。 〃Either get off my boat now or get to the bow and watch for bommies。〃
Moore saw the sea swirling beyond the glass； the sky was turning from black to gray now； as morning fast approached。 The cloud ceiling was low and moved before a rapid wind； opening up holes though which a dank yellowish light appeared。 Moore went out onto the deck； into the wind's bite； and saw a black column of smoke scrawled in the sky。 It hung directly over the Coquina village； and instantly his heart rose to his throat。
〃Cheyne；〃 he called； motioning toward it。 The Carib peered out； his powerful hands clamped about the wheel。 〃The village is burning；〃 he said； a lump of rage rising to his throat。 Cheyne turned the trawler very slowly to keep the rising sea from smashing over the port side； he pulled back on his twin throttles and the diesel's noise quieted。 His gaze was cold and grim； the eyes unmoving。
In a few minutes Moore could see well enough to make out the ruins of the fishermen's shanties。 Cheyne's trawler moved through green…slimed bommies into the smoother harbor water。 The smell of smoke was thick and acrid； and Moore was consumed with rage。 As the trawler neared the mercial wharf Moore saw a group of ragged…looking islanders and shouted to them； throwing a line。 Without waiting for Cheyne to cut his engines he had jumped across to the wharf； moving through the knot of men toward the shanties。
Cheyne came out on deck； 〃Moore！〃 he roared。 〃There's no time。。。！〃
But he had already gone； the rage burning within him； his feet sinking in wet sand。 The scorched smell hung across the harbor and it sickened him。 Bodies were being pulled from the ruins； and lay on the street； charred black； it was hard to tell that many of them had ever been walking； living； breathing human beings。 Moore clenched his teeth； looking to see if he knew any of them but not being able to recognize the faces。 Someone working with another crew of men farther along Front Street cried out； 〃Here's one！〃 and a woman wailed。
Moore walked forward； dazed； the faces around him were weary； filthy。 Some he recognized； some he did not； but in all he saw a pain； a numbness； a horror。 A woman rocked the corpse of a child while a man stood over her； eyes darting madly in all directions。 The man knew he must do something but was unable to think。 〃Go sleep；〃 the woman whispered through her tears。 〃Sweet baby go sleep。。。〃 A wailing pierced the dim light； he saw the burned hulks of the bars； the smoke still rising。 Other buildings had caught fire again now that the rain had almost stopped； and he could see bucket brigades working feverishly。 The Indigo Inn stood unscathed； at the top of the hill； too far away to be touched by the fire