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〃E ON！〃 he dared them； beckoning with his club。 〃E ON AFTER ME！〃
They stopped suddenly； watching him； the eyes moving past to probe the bow shadows。 They saw； in the next instant they surged forward； flailing at him； trying to reach the dynamite and tear out the racing fuses。 Moore swung wildly； felt the wood break beneath his grip； felt himself flung back by a tremendous； inhuman strength。 Only seconds now； the seconds breaking into fragments。 Seconds。 Hurry。 Hurry。 Hurry。
Moore stood his ground； blood streaming from a hairline slash； he fought madly with his bare hands against the hideous things that advanced upon him； throwing them to each side； slamming fists against brittle bone。
And through the knot of living corpses came the one that Moore recognized： the tall； livid…eyed form of Wilhelm Korrin。 Moore saw the jawkss face illuminated in the faint red glow of the fuses。 Korrin stepped forward slowly； a man in the grip of horrible pain； his arm came up； the finger pointing toward Moore。 The hand became a claw； grasping； reaching。 The others were motionless； watching their mander。
And then the hand stopped； inches from Moore's throat。 Korrin stood looking at the burning fuse。 His head fell back slightly； the eyes closing； the lids blocking off that hellish gaze； as if in expectation of death's final and merciful deliverance。
An instant before the heat seared him Moore had a split…second sensation： the touch of someone's hand； cool； kind； reaching for his through a wall of mist。 He held it tightly。 And his last thought was that he was staring toward the sea； that he had seen a beautiful boat in the distance and he must swim to it； must swim to it because he had recognized the name on the transom and they were waiting for him。
The blast parted the sea。 Kip and Jana； struggling through the churning waves； twisted around to look。 There was a yellow glare so fierce it hurt their eyes； jagged shards of wood flew through the sky； leaving fiery trails。 The bow section of the Pride had disappeared； beside the trawler the fist of a giant pounded the Night Boat； slamming a tremendous rent in the iron just at the waterline。 The forward deck collapsed…crumpling； metal shrieking…the conning tower was almost ripped from the superstructure。 Iron plates spun into the air； up into blackness。 Bits of railing were thrown to all sides。 In another roar of flame the Pride's wheelhouse vanished； the second blast deafened them。 Drums of fuel were tossed high； and as they dropped back into the sea they exploded just over the surface； covering the submarine with sheets of flame。 As Kip watched； he saw the Night Boat thrown free of the reef。 Its twisted； smoking bulk veered toward him and Jana； faster and faster； driven by the rolling currents。
And then came the collapse of the entire deck； the conning tower falling away； the periscopes snapping off。 Kip felt the pull of the water at him； he fought it； his legs kicking wildly。 A whirlpool had opened and the Night Boat began to whirl around the rim of a huge； black pit； as the submarine was sucked down； the bow peeled back； the noise of a dying beast screaming in agony。 The ocean's thunder drowned out the death cries。
The boat was folding in on itself； its iron caving in； being hammered into a misshapen mass。 It was happening； Kip realized； just as Boniface had tried to make it happen when he twisted that bit of wax cast in the submarine's image and tossed it to the flames。
The Night Boat's stern pitched high； dripping red flame； the bow vanished into the whirlpool。 There was a loud hissing as the sea swept over hot iron。 On the rising stern the screws glistened in the firelight。
Water crashed over them； forcing them down； Kip clenched the door and pulled them back to the surface。
And when his head broke free he saw the thing was gone。
Though the plain of the sea was studded with fire； the whirlpool's action was lessening。 A rush of bubbles exploded on the surface； then the whirlpool stopped； covering over the boat； its own deep grave。
Kip and Jana clung to the platform of wood； exhausted； breathing raggedly。 Kip shook his head to clear it； shrugging off water。 Jana was limp； one hand still clamped to his shoulder。 He could feel the strong beating of her heart。
On the horizon； silhouetted in a gash of orange sky； was a flat mass of land。 Kip blinked； unsure of what he was seeing。 It lay about two miles distant； but he could already feel the currents dragging them in。 〃Big Danny Cay；〃 he said hoarsely。 Beside him Jana stirred； lifted her head。
They began to kick for it； slowly because the water was still rough。 Kip looked over his shoulder； trying to pinpoint the spot where the submarine had gone down； but now the fires were dying and there was no way to tell。 The creature was gone； and there was no cause to look back again。 Now he could only think of all he would have to do； because he was the law on Coquina and there were people he was responsible for； people who looked to him for the kind of strength he knew he would find deep within himself。
And swinging his vision back across the sea he thought he saw something； there against the warmth of the horizon； something like a small boat heading into the sun with her sails filled and all the great expanse of the sky beyond it。
His eyes filled with tears and； looking away； he knew it would soon be out of sight。
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