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ong〃 anchored to each tightening point。 He was surprised Garza hadn't done this already。
Quickly； he scrambled to the main tightening point and switched on the key motor…assist。 It lit up … in perfect working order； of course。
The ship continued to subside into the oning trough； giving him some peace and stability in which to work。
Glinn pulled the forward lever on the motor…assist； and was pleased to see the big rubber…coated chains that had e loose in the rocking of the meteorite tighten again。 Why hadn't Garza done this？ The reason was clear： he had panicked。 Glinn felt a momentary disappointment at his trusted construction manager。 This wasn't like Garza； not like him at all。 So many had failed him； but at least he had failed no one。
The chains were tightening nicely； and he turned to Puppup。 〃Take this toolbox；〃 he said； indicating a box left in Garza's retreat。
The ship rose； the roll began； the chains began to strain。 And then； with a sharp ratcheting noise； the chains loosened。 Glinn peered closely in the dim light。 He saw that； in fact； Garza had already tried it。 The gears on the motor…assist had been stripped； and the four…inch steel ratchet head had sheared off。 The assist was useless。
The ship began to rise。 And then he heard a voice from above。 He ducked out from the web and glanced up。 Sally Britton was stepping through the hatchway onto the catwalk。 She carried herself with the same natural dignity that had struck him so forcefully the first time he had seen her； ing down those sun…drenched steps； ages and ages ago。 His heart gave an unexpected lurch。 She had changed her mind： she would stay with the ship。
Britton had to pause during the long； screeching roll。 They stared at each other while the meteorite rocked in its cradle and the ship screamed its pain。 When it was over she called out again。 〃Eli！ The ship's about to break up！〃
Glinn felt sharp disappointment： there had been no change in her thinking after all。 But all this was a distraction。 He focused his attention on the cradle again。 Now he saw it： the way to lock down the rock was to tighten the topchain bolt at the summit of the meteorite。 It would mean cutting through the tarp。 It was a simple matter； requiring no more than six inches of hand tightening。 He began climbing up the nearest chain。
〃Eli； please！ There's an extra lifeboat in reserve for us。 Leave this thing and e with me！〃
Glinn pulled himself up； Puppup following with the toolbox。 He needed to focus his mind on the objective； not suffer distractions。
Reaching the crown of the meteorite； he found to his surprise a small flap already cut in the tarp。 Beneath； the topchain bolt was loose； as he expected。 As the ship rose out of the trough and began to heel yet again； he fitted the wrench around the nut； anchored the bolt with a second wrench； and began to tighten。
Nothing moved。 He had not prehended … could not prehend … what tremendous； what unimaginable pressure the bolt was under。
〃Hold this wrench；〃 he said。 Puppup obliged； grabbing it with his sinewy arms。
The ship canted farther。
〃e back to the bridge with me； Eli；〃 Britton said。 〃There may still be time to trigger the switch。 Both of us might yet live。〃
Glinn glanced up for an instant from his struggle with the bolt。 There was no pleading in her voice … that was not Sally Britton's way。 He heard patience； reason； and utter conviction。 It made him sad。 〃Sally；〃 he said； 〃the only people who are going to die are the foolish ones in the lifeboats。 If you stay here； you'll survive。〃
〃I know my ship； Eli；〃 was all she said。
Kneeling； hunched over the topchain bolt； he struggled with the nut。 Someone else had tried this before him： there were fresh marks on the metal。 As the ship heeled； he felt the meteorite shift； and he anchored himself more firmly； both feet braced against the links。 He strained to the limits of extremity； but it did not move。 Gasping； he refitted the wrench。
Still the ship heeled。
Britton spoke out of the darkness above； her voice rising above the sound。 〃Eli； I would like to have that dinner with you。 I don't know much about poetry； but what I know I could share with you。 I would like to share it with you。〃
The meteorite shuddered； and Glinn found himself gripping with both hands as the meteorite tipped with the ship。 There were ropes up here； fastened to the frame plates of the tank； and he quickly lashed one around his waist to keep his position。 He returned to the wrench。 A quarter turn； that was all he needed。 The yawing of the ship slowed and he once again grasped the handle of the wrench。
〃And I could love you。 Eli。。。〃
Glinn stopped suddenly and stared up at Britton。 She tried to speak again； but her voice was drowned out by the rising shriek of tortured metal； echoing madly in the vast space。 All he could see was her small figure on the catwalk above。 Her golden hair had bee unpinned and lay wildly across her shoulders； glowing even in the dim light。
As he stared； he became dimly aware that the ship was not leveling out。 He looked away from her； first at the bolt； then at Puppup。 The man was grinning； his long thin mustaches dripping water。 Glinn felt a surge of anger at himself for not focusing on the problem at hand。
〃The wrench！〃 he called to Puppup over the screaming of metal。
The ship was very far over； the sounds of metal deafening。 With a hand he wished was steadier； Glinn took out his pocket watch to once again calculate the inclination； he held it up but it swung back and forth。 As he tried to steady it； the watch slipped through his fingers and shattered against the flank of the rock； he saw little glints of gold and glass skittering along the red surface and disappearing into the depths。
The yawing seemed to accelerate with a brutal suddenness。 Or was it his imagination？ Surely none of this could be real。 Double overage had been brought to bear； the calculations run and rerun； every possible path to failure accounted for。
And then he felt the meteorite begin to move beneath him； and there was a tearing sound as the tarps rent and the web unraveled； the sudden red of the meteorite filling his field of vision like the opening of a great wound； the rock crisscrossed by tangled ropes and cables； rivets shooting and ricocheting past him。 Still the ship yawed on its side； steeper and steeper。 He scrambled desperately； trying to untie the rope from his waist； but the knot was so tight； so tight。。。
There was a sound beyond all description； as if the heavens and the gulfs below had opened up at once。 The tank tore apart in a terrific shower of sparks； and the meteorite rolled into the darkness … a monstrous shambling like some deliberate beast … taking him with it。 Instantly all was dark； and he felt a rush of chill air。。。
There was the faint tinkle of glasses； the murmur of voices。 L'Ambroisie was busy on this balmy Thursday night； filled with art fanciers and wealthy Parisians。 Beyond the restaurant's discreet front； the smoky autumn moon lent the Marais district a delicate shimmer。 Glinn smiled at Sally Britton； who was seated across the fine white damask。 〃Try this；〃 he said as the waiter uncorked a bottle of Veuve C