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ing port。 Although their destination had been held from them； they knew their exact position within thirty miles。
There was no placency in the wheelhouse。 Hunt stared aft through the snow flurries； barely distinguishing the deck lights trailing toward the stern。 In horrified fascination he watched as the stern appeared to rise on an angle downward amidships。 Over the howl of the wind through the superstructure； he could hear the hull shrieking as it ground itself to pieces。 He reached out and punched the emergency bell that rang the general alarm throughout the ship。
Hui knocked Hunt's hand away from the emergency bell button。 〃We cannot abandon ship。〃 He spoke in a shocked whisper。
Hunt stared at him in disgust。 〃Die like a man； General。〃 〃I must not be allowed to die。 I vowed to see the cargo safely deposited in port。〃
〃This ship is breaking in two；〃 said Hunt。 〃Nothing can save you and your precious cargo。〃 〃Then our position must be fixed so it can be salvaged。〃 〃Fixed for whom？ The lifeboats have been crushed and swept away。 You demanded all life vests be cast overboard。 You destroyed the ship's radio。 We can't send out a Mayday call。 You covered our tracks too well。 We're not even supposed to be hi these waters。 Our location is unknown to the rest of the world。 All Chiang Kai…shek will ever learn is that the Princess Dou Wan vanished with all hands six thousand miles south of here。 You planned well； General； too well。〃 〃No！〃 Hui gasped。 〃This cannot happen！〃 Hunt actually found himself amused at the look of rage and helplessness on the face of Hui。 The shifty look in the dark eyes was gone。
The general could not bring himself to accept the inevitable。 He tore open the door to the bridge wing and ran out into the storm gone berserk。 He could see the ship twisting in its death throes。 The stern was swinging on a pronounced angle to starboard now。 Steam was erupting from the tear in the hull。 He stood and watched in shock as the stern separated from the rest of the ship in a protest of the grinding and tearing sound of metal being ripped apart。 Then all the lights aboard ship j blinked out and he could see no more of the stern。
Crewmen burst from below onto decks covered in snow j and ice。 Frustrated by murderous waves that had smashed the ！ lifeboats； they cursed the lack of life jackets。 The end came so quickly； most all were caught unprepared。 This time of year the j frigid water was only thirty…four degrees； the air temperature only five degrees above zero。 In panic they jumped over the side； seemingly unaware that the cold water would kill them in a matter of minutes； if not from hypothermia then from the stoppage of their hearts at the shock of having their bodies exposed to an instantaneous sixty degree drop in temperature。
The stern sank out of sight in less than four minutes。 The hull amidships seemed to evaporate into nothingness； leaving a long gap between the sunken stern and the bow section forward of the smokestack。 A small group of men struggled to lower the only partially damaged lifeboat； but a massive wave thundered over the forecastle and swept across the deck。 Men and boat disappeared under the deluge； never to be seen again。
Holding Katie's hand in a death grip； Gallagher dragged her up a ladder and across the roof of the officers' cabins toward a life raft that was mounted aft of the wheelhouse。 He was surprised to see that it was empty。 Twice； they slipped on the ice coating the roof and fell。 Spray flung by the gale stung their faces and blinded them。 In the confusion none of the Chinese officers or crew had remembered the life raft atop the roof。 Most all； including General Hui's soldiers； had headed for the remaining lifeboat or had thrown themselves into the deadly water。
〃Fritz！〃 Katie cried in anguish。 〃We left Fritz in the cabin。〃
〃No time to return；〃 said Gallagher。
〃We can't leave without him！〃
He looked into her eyes solemnly。 〃You must forget Fritz。 It's our lives or his。〃
Katie twisted away； but Gallagher held her tightly。 〃Climb in； darlin'； and hold on tight。〃 Then he pulled a knife from his boot and furiously slashed at the ropes securing the raft。 Gallagher paused as he cut away the last rope and glanced through the windows of the wheelhouse。 Dimly lit by the emergency lights； Captain Hunt stood calmly beside the helm； accepting his death without remorse。
Gallagher frantically waved at his captain through the windows； but Hunt did not turn。 He merely shoved his hands inside the pockets of his coat and stared vacantly into the snow building around the windows。
Suddenly； a figure emerged from the bridge through the swirling blanket of white。 He stumbled like a man chased by a banshee； thought Gallagher。 The intruder bumped against the life raft； striking it above the knees； and tumbled inside。 Only when he stared up； eyes fixed more in madness than in terror； did Gallagher recognize General Hui。
〃Don't we have to cut the raft loose？〃 Hui shouted above the wind。
Gallagher shook his head。 〃I've done that chore。〃
〃The suction from the sinking ship will drag us under。〃
〃Not in this sea； General。 We'll be swept clear in seconds。 Now lie down on the bottom and get a good grip on the safety ropes。〃
Too numb with cold to reply； Hui did as he was instructed and took his place inside the raft。
A deep rumble swelled up from below as the cold water surged over the boilers； causing them to explode。 The forward section of the ship shook and vibrated； then lurched downward amidships； sending the bow rising into the cold night。 The cables supporting the tall； old…fashioned smokestack snapped under the strain； and it fell with a large splash。 The water reached the level of the life raft； and its buoyancy lifted it from its mounts。 The last Gallagher saw of Captain Hunt； water was surging through the doors of the wheelhouse and whirling around his legs。 Determined to go down with his ship； he clutched the helm and stood as firm as if he had turned to granite。
It felt to Gallagher as if they were suspended in time。 Waiting for the ship to drop from under them seemed an eternity。 Yet it all happened in a few seconds。 Then the raft was washed free and hurled into the chaotic waters。
Cries for help came in Mandarin and Cantonese dialects that were impossible to answer。 Final pleas to friends slowly faded between the monster wave crests and their troughs and into the fury of the wind。 There would be no rescue。 No ships were close enough to notice them vanish from radar and no call for help went out。 Gallagher and Katie watched with a feeling of horror as the bow rose higher and higher； as if clawing at the stormy sky。 She hung suspended for nearly a minute； her ice…shrouded upper works giving her the look of an apparition。 Then she gave up and slipped under the black waters。 The Princess Dou Wan was no more。
〃Gone；〃 Hui muttered； his voice unheard above the storm。 〃All gone。〃 He was staring with utter disbelief at where the ship had been。
〃Huddle together for our bined body heat；〃 ordered Gallagher。 〃If we can make it until morning； we stand a chance of being picked up。〃