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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 noise of the sea。
Moore nodded and then went out the doorway into the weather。 A surge of spray slapped against him； almost knocking him back； but he clenched his teeth and began to move； hanging on to the starboard gunwale； creeping inch by inch toward the prow。 Kip grasped the overhead beam behind him with one hand； bracing his feet against the door frame and letting out the line。 A wave pounded diagonally across the Pride； hammering at Moore； he clung against a capstan for balance； the trawler pitching beneath him。
He watched for the telltale coral swirls。 A plateau of growth lay to port； Moore motioned in a starboard direction and the Pride responded。 Other reefheads were exposed beyond； as the sea rose away from them； Moore waved his arm frantically。 One of the bommies ground up under the hull with a long grating noise； but then they were through and Moore； straining his eyes； couldn't see any others。 He stayed where he was； his arms aching and his lungs heaving to draw in air through the bitter salt spray。 The trawler suddenly bucked upward as a green…veined wave crashed beneath； and Moore was driven to his knees； feeling the rope gnaw at his waist。 With a shriek that was unlike anything he had ever heard before； the sea parted； sending the Pride racing down into a black gully before tossing it high again。
Moore hung on； suddenly he was wearing his yellow slicker。 Around him the crashing and grinding of water； the wind screaming in a high wail。 He lay at the stern； fighting to control the rudder； hoping beyond all hope he could make harbor before this freak storm consumed his boat。 Panic welled up within him： Don't lose control； he shouted to himself。 For God's sake； don't lose control！
〃DAVID！〃 his wife screamed from the cabin panionway。 And there they stood； both of them watching； their eyes frozen in white faces。
〃GET BACK INSIDE！〃 he shouted； the words twisted and hurled over his head。
〃PLEASE。。。！〃 she cried hopelessly。
Ice filled his veins； he had seen it over her head： a wave that blocked out the sky； staining it deepest black； a churning wall of water that was going to sweep over them。 He opened his mouth to shout because he knew she hadn't seen； but nothing came from his throat。 Don't lose control！ he shouted mentally。 Let the wave break over the bow； let it break and keep control of this boat！ It will lift the boat high and send it tumbling across its huge precipice； but KEEP YOUR HAND ON THIS TILLER！
He watched it ing； could not speak； could not breathe； could not think。 He saw their eyes fixed on him。
An instant before the wave hit he took his hand away from the tiller； a self…protective instinct； throwing an arm over his face and screaming even as he knew it was a fatal； senseless mistake。
A single cry tore at his heart before the water twisted the boat； before the black wave crashed broadside and covered Destiny's Child： 〃DAVID。。。！〃
When he reached back for the tiller it was gone； he was sealed in a coffin of water； twisted and mauled by the sheer force of the wave。 He went down choking； hands gripping emptiness； around him the tangled timbers that had been Destiny's Child。 He'd lost control for one instant； it had been enough to sweep them away from him forever。 He'd failed them； failed them even as they trusted him with their lives。
And now； on the Pride's pitching forward deck； Moore forced himself back from a voyage through rage and bitterness through the dark caverns of his own soul。 He clutched at the capstan； his muscles aching； he ignored the sharp pulling at the line around him。 He was afraid to move。 The storm…swept sky and sea； the wind now building and hitting his face； the waves dancing madly before the bow all bined to haunt him with fragmented； horrible images of the past。 Water crashed over him； streaming around his feet and threatening to suck him away from his hold。
Yes； yes。 Why not let go？ Why not let the sea take you？ This is the time you've waited for； this is the moment； the second； the place。 When the next white sheet of water covers you over； let go。。。 let go。 Only an instant of pain； perhaps； as the sea fills your lungs and chokes the brain。 An instant。 That's all。 He shook his head。 No。 Yes。 No。 NO！ It was not suicide he'd followed across the world； no； the thought of that was repugnant to him。 He had followed his beckoning destiny and now was not yet the time。
Then from the blackness of the sea； crashing through the next wave that loomed overhead； a huge and terrible shape materialized。 Foam swept the decks； shimmered like glass along its hull。 A haunted boat； its railings strung with weed； chasms of water opening beneath it。 The iron bow raced toward Moore。
〃Cheyne！〃 he shouted； twisting his head around。
He saw the Carib's face through the glass： drawn； mouth open； eyes staring in cold terror。 The man's hands clamped around the wheel； frozen in a collision course。 Kip peered out behind Cheyne； reaching forward。
〃Cheyne！〃 Moore shouted again； unable to move。
Water splattered the windshield and rolled off。 When it had cleared Moore saw that the Carib's eyes were fierce holes； and his teeth were bared。 Cheyne threw his shoulder into the wheel； spinning it to starboard； the Pride responded； sending another wall of water over Moore。
The Night Boat passed to the port side only feet away； Moore could hear the hoarse rumblings of its engines； the taunting roar of a creature from the depths。 The trawler listed to starboard and Moore lost his grip。 He fell away from the capstan； slamming hard into the starboard gunwale。 He heard the Night Boat's iron flesh rasp against wood。 〃God。。。〃 Moore hissed； salt stinging his eyes； he wiped the water away； saw the thing vanish through another high wave； trailing streaks of green luminescence。 The rope tightened； almost cutting him in two； he pushed himself away from the gunwale and was dragged back into the wheelhouse。
Cheyne fought to regain control of the rudder。 The Pride wanted to break free and run； but he wouldn't let her go。 〃I won't lose it！〃 he breathed。 〃By God； I won't lose it！〃 The trawler shuddered； pitched high； but began to answer the helm。 Cheyne worked against the wheel； the muscles of his back aching； Kip leaped to his side and together they righted the boat。
Moore lay back against the wheelhouse bulkhead trying to catch his breath； coughing and trembling。 Jana was suddenly at his side； bending over him。 〃It came out of the dark；〃 he told her between coughs。 〃I didn't have time to。。。〃
〃It's all right；〃 she said。 〃It's gone。〃
〃No； not gone；〃 Cheyne said。 〃They turned back to ram us under； they know we're here； and they know we're following。 Now maybe they're after us； playing with us a little bit； biding their time。〃 He shook his fist at the dark sea。 〃Damn you； where are you？ I'll follow you into Hell； you sonofabitch！〃
Moore waited a few minutes longer； until his strength had returned； then he rose shakily to his feet and came along