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They paused； expectantly； for the space of a heartbeat。 Then Rachel let out a long breath。
〃Looks like it worked；〃 she said。 〃Congratulations。〃
〃Congratulations？〃 McFarlane replied。 〃It was your idea。〃
〃Yeah； I know。 But you figured out the salinity angle。〃
〃Only through your prompting。〃 McFarlane hesitated。 〃Listen to us；〃 he went on。 〃We're a goddamn mutual appreciation society。〃
Despite his weariness； he found himself grinning。 He could almost feel a huge weight lifting from his shoulders。 They knew now what caused the explosions。 They had taken the necessary steps to make sure it would not happen again。 They were on their way home。
He looked down at Rachel； her dark hair shining in the dim light。 Just a few weeks ago； the thought of sharing this easy； fortable silence would have been unthinkable。 And yet now it seemed hard to imagine a time when she had not been with him； working at his side … finishing his sentences for him； teasing him； providing speculation； wisecracks； and insight whether they were desired or not。
She was leaning back against the tank； gazing out at nothing as the ship went into an even steeper roll； unaware that he was looking at her。 〃Do you hear something？〃 she asked。 〃I could swear I heard a distant explosion。〃
But McFarlane was barely listening。 To his surprise； he felt himself kneeling beside her and drawing her near with a very different feeling than the passion that had briefly filled him in her cabin。
She laid her head on his shoulder。
〃You know something？〃 he said。 〃You're the nicest smart…assed； backstabbing assistant I've met in a long time。〃
〃Mmm。 I'll bet you say that to all the girls。〃
He stroked her cheek gently； then raised her lips to his as another large wave passed by。 Water splattered loudly across the tarps。
〃Does this mean I get to wear your MIT ring？〃 she murmured。
〃No。 But you can borrow my rock hammer。〃
They kissed again as the ship slowly righted； then went immediately into another heavy roll in the other direction。
Suddenly； McFarlane drew back。 Over the general muttering and creaking of the hold； over the distant boom of the sea； he heard a new sound； a strange； high…pitched creaking； ending in a metallic crack； loud as a gunshot； and then another； and another。
He glanced quickly at Rachel。 She looked back； her eyes wide and luminous。 The loud reports ceased； but the echoes still sounded in his ears。 They waited in shocked silence。 With each fresh roll of the ship； there now arose a chorus of other sounds： the groaning of steel； the creak and crackle of splintering wood； the tearing of rivets and welds。
Rolvaag；
3：30 P。M。
BRITTON WATCHED the first tracer shell rise lazily above the wracked surface of the sea and then fall away in a twinkle of light。 Another one followed； still dropping well short of their position。
Lloyd was instantly at the window。 〃Christ； do you believe this？ The son of a bitch is firing at us。〃
〃Tracers；〃 said Glinn。 〃They're getting our range。〃
She saw Lloyd's jaw set in a tight line。
〃Mr。 Howell； hard left rudder；〃 she ordered as another pair of tracer shells arched over the sea； a little closer this time。
They watched in silence as more shells came on； creeping ever closer。 And then one flashed directly overhead； a streak of light against the dark sky。
〃We're bracketed；〃 murmured Glinn。 〃Now they'll open up with live rounds； walking them through our position。〃
Lloyd turned on him。 〃What are you； a sports announcer？ We need a plan； not running mentary。 I can't believe this。 Three hundred million and this is where you've brought us？〃
Britton spoke； quickly but distinctly。 〃Silence on the bridge！ Mr。 Howell； right full rudder！ Engines emergency astern！〃 In the crisis； she felt her thoughts begin to stream past with a crystalline clarity。 It was almost as if someone else was doing her thinking for her。 She glanced at Lloyd； standing there at the center of the bridge windows； his beefy fingers twined like a knot as he looked southward over the ruthless seas。 How difficult it must be to realize that money couldn't buy everything … even one's own life。 How different he was； in the last analysis； from the man who stood beside him。
Her eyes moved to Glinn。 She found herself being dependent on his judgment now； in a way she would never have allowed before he had been proven wrong … proven human； she thought。
Beyond the two men lay the storm…tossed sea。 As night had fallen； they had darkened the ship in an attempt to elude Vallenar's guns。 But a huge southern moon； a day from full； had risen in a crystalline night sky to thwart their hopes。 To Britton； it almost looked as if it was smiling mockingly at them。 A panteonero was a strange form of weather： it usually ended in a clear night of maddening； murderous wind。 In the moonlight； the moiling surface of the ocean had a ghastly luminescence。 The surreal ocean continued to launch a procession of gigantic breakers past them； looming above the ship； periodically throwing it into darkness deeper than night； subsiding in huge roars as the ship broke out once again into the moonlight； the tumbling white water； and the banshee winds。
An abrupt report； faint but audible above the storm； shook the bridge windows。 Others followed in measured cadence。 Britton saw a row of geysers climbing down the face of a wave to the north； one after another； heading toward the Rolvaag along the line of its former course。
The great ship's head labored and wallowed in the seas。 Turn； you bitch； she thought。
Suddenly； the ship bucked and shuddered。 A great billow of ugly yellow smoke shot from the bow； hot metal whining upward； trailing streamers。 A thunderous report immediately followed。 One of the king posts jerked into the air； twisting as it fell back； the guy wires whiplashing across the deck。 Then the geysers were erupting ahead of them and turning wide as the fire passed their position。
There was a deathly moment of stasis。
Britton was the first to recover。 She raised her glasses and examined the bow area。 It appeared that at least one shell had ripped through the forecastle。 The great ship rose on the next wave； in the bright moonlight； she could see water running into the exposed chain locker and out a ragged hole； well above the waterline。
〃General alarm；〃 she said。 〃Mr。 Howell； send a damagecontrol team forward。 Assemble a fire team with AFFF foam and an Explosimeter。 And I want a lifeline rigged up along the maindeck； bow to stern。〃
〃Aye aye； ma'am。〃
Almost involuntarily； she glanced at Glinn。
〃Cut the engines；〃 he murmured。 〃Veer away from the wind。 Cut ECM。 Pretend we're crippled。 That will stop his firing for now。 Give it just five minutes； then we'll run again。 That will force him to repeat his range…finding。 We must make those ice islands。〃
She watched him step away to confer with his operative in low tones。
〃Mr。 Howell；〃 she said。 〃All engines stop。 Left thirty degree rudder。〃 The ship continued forward under its immense inertia； slowly turning。
She looked at Lloyd。 His face had gone gray； as if the firing had shocked him to the core。 Perhaps he believed he was about to die。 Perhaps he was t