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And finally Cheyne had reached the bow； he grasped a thick line and pulled at it。 There was a crude twin…grappled anchor attached to the other end used for mooring on reefs。 The thick； coarse line was coiled on the deck and made fast to a winch。 He heard the buoys rattling dead ahead。 If he could lift the anchor； throw it； get it hooked into the submarine's deck railing there was a chance of dragging it across the reefs and splitting that hull open。 With one arm he hefted the anchor； the muscles cramping； he couldn't find strength enough to throw it。 The Night Boat again crashed against the starboard gunwale。 There was no time。 In another moment it would be veering off from the Teeth。
Cheyne pulled the anchor with him and leaped over the gunwale。
He slammed against the superstructure； pain taking his breath away。 He began to slide down the iron； his feet scrabbling at vents。 With his good hand he sought to spike the anchor in； like a harpoon； but there was no place to hook it。 The sea pounded him。 He drove out with the anchor； feeling it catch into something： A collapsed； hanging section of railing。
The rope snapped tight before his face and he clung to it； dragging in the water。 Beside him； the monster vibrated。 Hold！ he manded the bolts around the winch on deck。 Hold！ 〃I'VE GOT YOU！〃 he shouted； his mouth filling with water。
And then the Night Boat swerved toward the Pride。 Cheyne was caught between； but still he held the anchor firm into the railing； gasping for breath。
The two vessels crashed together； the entire starboard gunwale split open。 When the submarine pulled away； tightening the rope again； Moore looked for Cheyne but saw he was gone。
The rattling of the warning buoys rang through the wheelhouse and Moore saw one of the red cans pass to port。 They were in the danger zone。 He threw the throttles forward； the Pride's diesels screaming。 Ahead were the twisted outgrowths of coral； he turned directly for them。 The only hope was the trawler's powerful engines against the submarine's ancient ones。 The Pride； shuddering with the weight； pulled the Night Boat onward。
There was a splitting noise； a snapping of coral； Moore heard iron being scraped and gouged as the Night Boat was dragged alongside。 Kip saw figures on the conning tower； the terrible things watching with greedy； flaming eyes。 A flash of lightning revealed a grim； jawless face。
Moore continued on into the field of reefs； feeling the Pride being bitten and knifed by the coral。 Water streamed into the wheelhouse； almost pulling him away from the wheel； but he fought it off； steering straight for the treacherous growths。 Kip and Jana； holding on at the doorway； saw the submarine slam onto a sharp coral slab； iron shrieked； began to fold back。
And then； the diesels still racketing； the Pride was held firm by the Teeth's bite； mere feet away the Night Boat came to a stop； its guts pierced by a reef spear； oil leaking from its tank。 The two boats hung side by side； each doomed。 Waves swirled around them； seeking to break them free。
Moore turned from the wheel； his eyes searching the shadows。 The oil lamp had gone over； it lay on its side and where the glass had cracked a single； weak finger of flame burned。 〃Take Jana and get off；〃 he told Kip。 〃Use that broken door as a raft。 Hurry！〃
Kip stared； shook his head。 〃No； David。 NO！〃
Moore ducked down through the hatch into the cabin。 He reappeared a moment later with the reel of fuse； unwinding it as he backed up the steps。 〃Get off； I said！〃 he shouted。
〃There's time for all of us；〃 Kip told him。 〃Please。。。！〃 He turned his head； a movement had attracted his attention。 The zombies were climbing down from the conning tower； moving across the deck toward the Pride。
〃Take Jana！〃 Moore shouted。 〃Go on！〃
Kip grasped his arm。 〃You're going with us！〃
〃If you don't try to fight the sea you can make it。 I did。。。 a long time ago。 Two can make it on that door。 Three can't。〃 He came to the end of the fuse； threw the reel aside； the things were scurrying down the conning tower ladder。 One of them tried to pull the anchor free。
Moore bent down and touched the fuse to the dying flame。 It hissed； sparked； a red cinder burned past him； along the plank flooring and toward the bow…section cabin。
〃DAVID！〃 Jana pulled at his arm。 〃Please！〃
〃I can't leave you；〃 Kip said。
〃They need you on Coquina；〃 Moore told him； his voice hurried。 〃The things are ing to board the trawler。 If they find the fuse and put it out； they may be able to work their boat free of the shoals。 They'll find someplace…maybe another Coquina…to repair it。 Go on！ Get out of here！〃
Kip paused。 There was something cold and resolute in Moore's eyes； he had seen a vision beyond Kip's sight。 There was nothing else to be said。 Kip grasped his good shoulder tightly； then took Jana's hand and dragged her out over her shouted protests。 He hauled the battered slab of the door over to the port side。 The water was black and wild underneath； dotted with coral。 〃Listen to me！〃 Kip shook her hard。 〃I SAID LISTEN TO ME！ Hang on to my back。 There'll be a shock when we hit； but don't let go！〃
And then； gripping the door before him like a shield； he leaped over with Jana clinging to him。 It was like hitting a solid wall when they struck； water crashed over them； tossed them high and then back down。 Kip pushed off from coral； shredding one hand。 He kicked with all his strength； trying to catch his breath； hearing Jana cry out in pain as her leg brushed one of the Teeth's needles。 The bulk of the door kept them afloat and away from most of the coral。 Kip clung to it with all the power he could manage。
Moore whirled around in the Pride's wheelhouse as two of the zombies appeared in the doorway。 They crept forward； claws outstretched。 He backed away from them； counting off the seconds。 One of them rushed him and he swung at it； the other grasped his arm； throwing him off balance。 He staggered and fell through the panionway into the lower cabin。 Fingers jabbed at his eyes； he kicked them back； struggling to his feet。 Behind him glowed the eye of the fuse。 Others came down after him； yellow fangs slavering； talons seeking his throat。 He kept backing away； making them follow him toward the bow partment。 How long？ his brain shrieked。 His flesh was crawling。 HOW LONG？
With another few steps he twisted around to look。 The primary fuse sparked higher； separated into four fuses that snaked toward the crates。 There was a hiss of fetid breath in his ear； a spidery thing with gaping eye sockets leaped for him； forcing him to the plankings； a claw reaching to rip at his throat。 He threw it off； kicked at it； crawled away。 He found an odd piece of wood and stood up； brandishing it like a club。 The cabin was filled with the stench of smoke and rot； whorls of smoke from the burning fuses undulated around them。 One of the things reached out…a face eaten by gray fungus； red eyes staring…and Moore slammed the wood into its chin。 It fell back； colliding into the others。
〃E ON！〃 he dared them； beckoning with his club。 〃E ON AFTER ME！〃
They stopped suddenly； watching him； the eyes moving