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〃What's the matter？〃 Kip asked； his voice tight。
Cheyne looked from side to side； searching for the bommies。 There was nothing。 He turned to port a few degrees。 The wind filtering through the ceiling stank of rot； of something decayed； yet refusing to die。
The sea stretched out before them； huge and empty； a universe of water。 No Big Danny Cay； no landmark bommies。 Cheyne eased back on both throttles； his skin beginning to crawl。 The boat。。。 where was the boat。。。？
〃I haven't lost it！〃 he said through clenched teeth。 〃I haven't lost it！ No！ It's out there。 And it's waiting for me。〃
〃Where are we？〃 Jana asked； looking first at Moore and than at the Carib。
A wave slammed hard into the hull； rocking the Pride to both sides。 The wind pulled at the windshield frame。
Then there was an abrupt； deafening silence。
Sea crashed across the bow； Cheyne drove straight through the rising wave； and on the other side of it he clenched his hand tight around the wheel and stared。
The ocean had flattened into a black； limitless plain。 No wind； no slap of sea across the trawler。 There was a strange； unnerving stillness。
〃Where are you； bastard？〃 Cheyne whispered。 〃e on； let's be done with it！〃
Cheyne cut back the engines until the Pride was almost sitting still。 Lightning flashed across his field of vision。 Moore； standing beside him； gripped the instrumentation panel for support。
〃Listen。。。！〃 Kip said。
The wind。 Rising in the distance。 Shrieking； turning； thrashing against itself like a maddened beast。
Veins of yellow broke open in the sky； cutting the sea into a jigsaw pattern of black and ocher。 Lightning made the water shimmer。 In the half…light Moore caught his breath； he'd seen the entire horizon roiling。 The hurricane was advancing rapidly； a storm of gargantuan magnitude。
At the same instant the entire plain of the ocean seemed to rise up； throwing the Pride forward so fast Jana and Kip were slammed against the bulkheads。 Cheyne fought with all his strength to hold the rudder； shouting for Moore to help。 The wind howled the length of the boat； and as the next roaring water flooded across the Pride there was a snapping noise…wood giving way。 One of the masts toppling。
Moore's head was thrown back； his teeth almost biting through his tongue。 Cheyne gasped； pushing against the vibrating wheel； fearful that the rudder would break。 The Pride was thrown high； almost free of the water； in the next moment it was toppling down a black wall； the sea smashing against them so hard Moore thought the windshield would shatter。 Something hit the boat； there was a grinding noise beneath。 Cheyne cursed； fought the rudder。
The sea was littered with broken planks； pieces of boats； here a huge tree with naked branches…they could see it all by the intermittent lightning's illumination。 The battered tin roof of a house whirled past the starboard beam。 Floating crates； the bow of a skiff； jagged bits of a storm…broken wharf swept by on each side of the trawler。 Sheets of spray drove over the boat； the scream of the wind like a man's outcry。 As Moore watched； his shoulder pressing against the wheel； a dark object hurtled across the prow directly toward the wheelhouse： the trunk of a tree； trailing clumps of seaweed。 It struck the windshield； glass cracked； stinging Moore's face。 Water exploded into the wheelhouse； breaking out more of the glass。 The tree trunk twisted； broke off； plunged away into the sea again。 Cheyne wrenched at the wheel； his back about to give way； the sweat of pain running down his face。 The rudder wouldn't respond！
And then suddenly； from the darkness straight ahead； as if borne toward them by the hurricane； came the looming； monstrous war machine。
The Night Boat。
Cheyne glared at the iron behemoth。 〃PUSH！〃 he shouted； his voice ragged。 Kip moved forward to help； his feet slipping in water。
The rudder was still sluggish； the sea had it locked in a powerful grip。 The Pride began to turn broadside； helpless before the rush of the oning monster。 It would strike them on the port side； crushing across the wheelhouse； Moore opened his mouth but could not manage to cry out。
The iron prow lifted up； up； towering over them。 Foam roared beneath it； the noise of certain destruction。
But then something else rose out of the storm： an apparition； flaming green and ghostly； a vision from a nightmare。
A freighter。 It appeared to be aflame…its length twisted； glowing metal。 Burning figures on the decks。 A hideous noise of screaming and moaning that made Moore cry out and clap his hands to his ears。
The freighter； moving with incredible speed； roared between the trawler and the Night Boat； Moore could still see the submarine through a mist of fiery timbers。 The U…boat veered away； water thundering against its superstructure； it swept past the trawler； and the grim freighter disappeared within the folds of the sea。
Cheyne strained at the wheel； his teeth clenched。 There was a loud crack that both Moore and Kip first mistook for breaking wood。 Cheyne cried out in pain； bone protruded from his left elbow。 The rudder came free； the wheel spinning。 The Carib fell to his knees。 〃TAKE THE WHEEL！〃 he shouted。
And Moore； his senses reeling； found himself reaching for it； gripping it； his wrists almost breaking。 He let the wheel play out and then fought back； feeling the ocean's tremendous strength wrenching at the rudder。
〃KEEP YOUR HANDS ON IT！〃 Cheyne roared； pulling himself up； his arm dragging uselessly。 〃DON'T LET IT SLIP！〃
Moore held on； his arms about to rip from their sockets。 Spray whipped into his eyes through the broken glass。
〃HOLD HER STEADY！〃 the Carib shouted。
The wheelhouse door was suddenly torn from its hinges； in the next white…hot sear of lightning Jana saw the huge form take shape； saw it hurtling toward the Pride's starboard； saw the waves churning at its prow。 〃It's ing back！〃 she cried out； holding herself in the doorway。 〃There！ It's ing back！〃
Kip twisted his head around； struggling toward her。 He saw it approaching； could imagine the things aboard grinning as they sighted their easy prey。
It raced onward； parting the sea； the rumble of its diesels and oil…stink filling the wheelhouse。 Jana saw the dripping holes of the torpedo tubes as the submarine was lifted high； in that instant she fought for her sanity。
In the far distance came a sound of metal against metal； a clattering racket borne in by the wind； swiftly carried away。 The buoys marking Jacob's Teeth！
When the submarine was almost upon them Moore felt the rudder respond； he spun the wheel to port。 The Night Boat roared alongside； only feet away。
Kip and Jana were shoved aside by the boat's turning。 Cheyne； his broken arm hanging； stood between them； his eyes blazing。 Then he staggered along the bucking deck； moving for the bow。 He stumbled； fell； regained his footing。 The noise of the buoys was more strident now； closer。 The Night Boat shuddered； struck the Pride； and then was thrown back by a wave。 It came in again； iron grinding along the trawler's hull。 Timbers shattered。
And finally Cheyne had reached th