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to be touched by the fire but empty and dead nevertheless。
He was stunned by the carnage。 〃Moore！〃 he heard Cheyne shout from the harbor。 〃Goddamn you。。。！〃
There were corpses lying in rows on Front Street covered with sheets； he caught a glimpse of Dr。 Maxwell and one of the nurses from the clinic bandaging the injured。 With his next step he almost tripped over a body curled before him； he made himself look down； and saw it was the old man who'd spoken reverentially of jumbies。 Now his skull was crushed and his eyes were glazed； sunken。
He shook his head； forcing his breath out between his teeth。 God； no。。。 no。。。 no。。。 History repeating itself； he thought； the Nazis have e； the sea…wolves； the conquerors； and they have been cunning and merciless。 Horror upon horror； death upon death。 And on the seas now the Night Boat； moving toward the shipping lanes to carry out a timeless mission of destruction。
And then Moore saw Reynard。 The man's forehead was gashed； his clothes smeared with ashes。 One of his hands was badly burned； the flesh puffing up in yellow blisters。 He stepped forward； making a choking noise； and grasped at Moore's collar。 〃You did this。。。〃 he rasped hoarsely。 〃Look what you've brought upon us。 LOOK AT IT； DAMN YOU！〃
Moore blinked； unable to move or push the man away。
Heads turned toward them。 〃You brought that Hell's boat up；〃 Reynard hissed。 〃You brought that thing from the Abyss！〃
〃No；〃 Moore said。 〃I didn't know。。。〃
〃Open your eyes and look at the dead！〃 Reynard shrieked； tears streaming down his cheeks。 〃YOU BROUGHT IT TO THE ISLAND！〃
〃It was the white man did this！〃 someone else； a thin； wild…eyed black shouted。 〃He killed my wife and babies； burned my house！ He brung that boat up from the sea！ He brung it up！〃
Moore felt the electricity closing in； he shook away from Reynard and the man sprawled face forward into the sand。 Another came forward； the hatred palpable： 〃FILTHY BROTHER TO THEM THINGS！〃 it shrieked。 〃YOU KILLED HER！〃
A hand appeared； holding an extra finger of slim silver。 Someone else shouted； a knot of people surrounding Moore； nowhere to go。 Their breath hot on him； dried blood on the faces； the eyes gone mad with fury。
〃Spill his blood！〃 a woman cried out。 The group of men moved closer； someone bent down； broke a beer bottle against a stone； and held out the glittering weapon。 Moore backed away from it； tripped over charred timbers； and fell onto his injured shoulder。 He cried out in pain； and then they were upon him； hauling him up； other hands groping for him； Reynard shouting in a broken voice。 He was pulled forward； through a cloud of ashes； and he tried to fight them but there were too many。
The black with the knife was moving in； Moore caught a glimpse of enraged eyes； a flash of metal。 The knife arm went back in a short； brutal arc； poised for an instant； and started to drive home through Moore's rib cage。
There was a blur of motion and bodies； an abrupt cry of pain； a piece of timber came crashing down across the head of the man with the knife； and he groaned in agony as he toppled forward； the knife spinning from his grip。
The timber swung out； caught another man in the chest； and drove him to his knees。 They all stood back from Moore； breathing heavily。
Cheyne held the jagged piece of wood ready to strike again。 His gaze flickered across the maddened faces； then he said quietly to Moore； 〃Step away from them。〃
Moore； nursing his throbbing shoulder； moved nearer the Carib。 Knives glittered around them。
〃e on；〃 Cheyne muttered defiantly。 〃Let's make short work of it。〃
One of the men； larger than the others； stepped from the group； a broken bottle gripped in a hamlike hand； another followed close behind。 But a sharp click！ froze them in their tracks。
〃I swear before God I'll shoot the first one of you who lays a hand on those two men；〃 Kip said； holding a rifle into their midst。 There were sunken hollows beneath his eyes and he blinked sluggishly； fighting exhaustion。 Behind him stood Myra； her clothes dirty and a bandage wrapped around one arm； she held their little girl； Mindy； whose eyes were glazed in shock。 〃Do any of you think this is going to bring back a wife； a child； or a husband？ If we start killing each other we'll be finishing the job those things began。。。！〃
The men watched Kip； their faces still eager for revenge。
〃There's nothing you can do now；〃 he told them。 〃They're gone。。。〃
〃AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO？〃 It was Reynard； struggling through the knot of men； sweat shining on his face。 〃You're the law here； there must be something you can do； some way you can。。。〃
〃When the weather clears we can use the radio to get help；〃 Kip said calmly。 〃Until then； no。〃
Reynard shook his head。 〃That's not enough！ Look at these people； mon！ Look at those bodies on the ground！ What we going to do if they e back？ How we going to fight？〃
〃Here are your friends；〃 Cheyne said to Moore。 〃See them as they are。〃 He raised his voice。 〃I'll tell you how we'll fight； old man！ I'm going to sea after the boat； I'm going to try to run it across Jacob's Teeth。〃 He glanced at Moore and said with grudging respect； 〃And this man's going with me。〃
Kip looked over his shoulder at the Carib； then at Moore。 〃Jacob's Teeth？ Then you think it's moving toward Jamaica？〃
〃Maybe；〃 Cheyne answered。 〃It's the fastest route into the heart of the sea lanes。 If we've guessed wrong； or if we're too late； we won't have another chance to find it。〃
〃You won't make it； Cheyne；〃 Kip said。 〃There's no way you can。。。〃
〃And what else are we to do？〃 The Carib glowered at him。 〃Let that goddamned thing slip away； maybe to return here and do this again？ They know our weaknesses now； and they know where to find diesel fuel for their boat。 They'll get into the sea lanes and if they do。。。 no。 I won't have that on my conscience。 This time they didn't attack Caribville； but once a long time ago I remember the scream of the shells and burning Caribs crawling through ashes。 No！ I won't let them get away！ Not this time！ Not ever again！〃 He glanced at Moore。 〃I've waited long enough。 If you don't e with me now I'm leaving you behind！〃 He turned and began walking back to the harbor。
Moore paused for a moment； looking into Kip's face。 〃I've got to help him；〃 he said。 〃There's no other way。〃
〃Just you two alone？〃
〃And Jana Thornton。〃
Kip stared at him； shook his head； looked back at the islanders。 The fear and sickness had overtaken them again； driving out the lust for violence。 Reynard staggered back through the group of men； muttering wildly。 〃I。。。 can't think anymore；〃 he said in a strained voice。 〃I don't know what I should do。〃 He stood there for a moment； his shoulders sagged； he drew a hand across his face and stared down as if he might find an answer in the ashes。
Kip's eyes flickered。 He looked around until he saw a face he knew。 〃J。R。； you'll be in charge until we return。 Here。 The keys to my office。 There are guns up there if you need them。 Clear away as many of these people as you can from the harbor； get them up to the clinic。 David； can we use your hotel as s