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ser and closer； but I cannot escape。 And then the noise is all around me； hot and screaming。 There is no way to get out of that room。
〃I see a crack zigzag across the ceiling； I see the ceiling fall to pieces just as the rain of hot metal and fire pours through。 Something jagged strikes my head and I try to scream but I have no voice。 I cup my own blood in my hands； and the blood is bubbling。 And then the pain。 White hot。 Unendurable。 God； the pain。。。〃 Tiny beads of sweat had risen on his forehead。
〃I can smell myself burning； in this nightmare； and no one can help me because they can't reach me beneath the flaming timbers。 And then darkness； a long terrible darkness。 Finally there are people in white who tell me to rest。 I lie in a green…walled room without mirrors。 But one day I struggle up from my bed and I catch a glimpse of something reflected in the window glass。 A monstrous face wrapped in yellowed bandages； shriveled and distorted； peering back； the swollen eyes widening。 I smash my hand through the glass because I am afraid of what I see。 I want to destroy that creature because I know someday its vision will destroy me。 This is no longer the face of a man； but the face of anacri； a demon； and what is inside is no longer bravery but doglike cowardice。〃
Cheyne glanced at Moore； his face was drawn tight； the sweat standing out in relief。 〃When the Nazis shelled Caribville from their boat； my house was the first hit。 My mother was driven to the edge of madness。 You saw her。 My father and a few of the others armed themselves with rifles and harpoons and went out in a small fishing boat to seek the monster。 And that was the last I saw of him。 The creatures in that Hell…spawned boat took away my life； Moore。 They took away something good and replaced it with part of themselves； they're still reaching for me； in each hour of my waking； in every moment of my sleep。 They keep returning to rip pieces of my soul away； and they won't stop until they have the all of me。 I fear them as no man ever feared anything on this earth； Moore。 Even now I tremble and sweat； and I despise myself for it。 To a Carib； courage is life； and if I die as a coward my soul will never find peace。〃
He paused a moment； licked his lips； his eyes judging the width of the sea's corridors。 〃I left Caribville for ten years； I went to South America and worked as a hand on one of the coffee plantations in Brazil； later in the Colombia stone quarries； where I learned how to blast rock with dynamite。 I was shunned and cursed by all as a symbol of bad luck； as a man with two faces； one good； the other twisted。 A British woman was my only friend…the widow of a freighter captain killed in a wreck； who lived near the quarries and worked as a cook for the men。 She was maybe twenty years older than me； she showed an interest； taught me how to read and write。
〃When I returned to Coquina to take on my responsibilities as Chief Father I knew I wasn't fit for the position。 But someone had to do it； and I have the royal blood。 For years； I managed to lead my people as best I could。 I tried to exert some influence； tried to change enough of the old ways to allow us to live in peace with the white man。 But then one day； as I stood on the point； I saw that huge boat rise from the Abyss。 I trembled as I watched。 The rage； the fear； the weakness： All of it flooded over me again。 I forced myself to go down to the boatyard。 I stood outside the shelter for a long time； but I couldn't make myself cross the threshold。 In my arms I held a crate of dynamite： I was going to blow it to pieces。 Instead I ran from that place； shaking like a cur。 If I had destroyed it that night； if I had set the caps and fuses and lit them； none of what's happened on Coquina would have e about。 There is much on my soul now。 But I have a last chance。 One last chance to find them； to destroy them before they slip away。 I don't know if I can。 But by God。。。 by God； I must try。〃
The men were silent for a long time。 Then Kip said； 〃Where'd you get that crate of dynamite？〃
〃When they were building their hotel and marina；〃 Cheyne said。 〃We stole it from them by the crateload and hid it in a shack out in the jungle。 Most of it's rotted now； but there's still some fit for use。〃
Ahead the sky was a mass of rolling clouds； yellow with black； swollen underbellies。 The sea thundered against the hull； bursting around the bow and making the entire boat shudder。 Cheyne pointed at the radio receiver。 〃Moore； see what you can pick up on that。〃
Moore switched it on and turned the dial； there was nothing but the loud crackle and blare of static。 A voice faded in； then evaporated。 The trawler was being rocked from side to side； the noise of a giant's fist pounding the keel。 Moore turned away from the radio and looked toward Jana。 〃You should be back on Coquina；〃 he told her。
〃I can make it；〃 she said。 〃I've spent most of my life researching sunken wrecks； U…boats； and otherwise。 Now； to see a boat like this one e back to life； riding the high seas。。。 it may be evil； yes； it may destroy us。。。 but I have to see it。〃
Moore shook his head。 〃You're either a fool or the gutsiest damn woman I ever met。〃 Something in her eyes kept him from saying anything else； although he couldn't for the life of him figure out what it was。 There seemed to be a thin wall of mist between them； as lazy and serpentine as the deep Caribbean tides。 He wanted to reach through； to pierce it with his fingers； to lay a hand against her cheek and feel the warmth of her flesh coursing through him。 He was glad they were together but was deeply afraid for her as well。 She was a beautiful woman； filled with life and hope； and he did not even attempt to raise his hand to reach for her。 He knew it couldn't be。 What was that about being of two different worlds？ One of them was dark； the other light； and she was not part of what lay before him。
〃Bommies ahead；〃 Cheyne said quietly。
Moore turned to look； Kip joined them。
The sea just beyond was a boiling maelstrom of black。 When the waters parted for an instant Moore caught the glimpse of the green and brown hooks of a surface…grazing reef。 Cheyne twisted the wheel to starboard； and as he did a wave struck the side； shaking them roughly。 He brought the wheel back quickly； and began to zigzag through the waves that now lifted in all directions； swamping the foredeck and streaming through the scuppers。 Something scraped noisily along the port side； just below the waterline。 Cheyne hissed the breath out between his teeth。 〃We're in the midst of it；〃 he said。 〃I need a watch at the bow。〃 He eased back on the throttles； cutting his speed。
Moore glanced over。 〃I'll go；〃 he said。
〃There's a coil of rope on the flooring back there。 Tie it around your waist good and tight。 Kip； you take the other end of it and do the same。 When Moore goes out that doorway you hold yourself firm to one of those beams and let him have slack real slow。 Keep the rope taut between you。〃
Kip helped Moore secure the rope； then slipped the other end beneath his arms and knotted it around his chest。 〃Be damned careful out there； David；〃 he said； raising his voice over the noi