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Back Blood in the Water
Chapters (82)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE
  37. THIRTY-FOUR
  38. THIRTY-FIVE
  39. THIRTY-SIX
  40. THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. THIRTY-NINE
  43. FORTY
  44. FORTY-ONE
  45. FORTY-TWO
  46. FORTY-THREE
  47. FORTY-FOUR
  48. FORTY-FIVE
  49. FORTY-SIX
  50. FORTY-SEVEN
  51. FORTY-EIGHT
  52. FORTY-NINE
  53. FIFTY
  54. FIFTY-ONE
  55. FIFTY-TWO
  56. FIFTY-THREE
  57. FIFTY-FOUR
  58. FIFTY-FIVE
  59. FIFTY-SIX
  60. FIFTY-SEVEN
  61. FIFTY-EIGHT
  62. FIFTY-NINE
  63. SIXTY
  64. SIXTY-ONE
  65. SIXTY-TWO
  66. SIXTY-THREE
  67. SIXTY-FOUR
  68. SIXTY-FIVE
  69. SIXTY-SIX
  70. SIXTY-SEVEN
  71. SIXTY-EIGHT
  72. SIXTY-NINE
  73. SEVENTY
  74. SEVENTY-ONE
  75. SEVENTY-TWO
  76. SEVENTY-THREE
  77. SEVENTY-FOUR
  78. SEVENTY-FIVE
  79. SEVENTY-SIX
  80. Praise for Blood in the Water
  81. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  82. Newsletter Sign-up

He stepped over a large rock, and his foot came down on a slick spot. He lost his balance and went down facefirst into the shallows. The icy water jolted his system, and his breath caught in his chest. His beard was covered in ice, and his hands were numb. He wondered whether he’d be able to make it to his feet.

Just then, he heard a gunshot and there was an explosion in the water next to him. He glanced back over his shoulder, and he could see Soh’s men fifty yards back, up on the hill. It was a long way for a good shot, but they had a clear line of sight on him, and it was obvious that if he stayed where he was, they would eventually get lucky even from that distance.

He hauled himself onto his feet. His frozen legs felt like they would no longer obey his brain’s commands, and he was reminded of dreams in which he would struggle to move his extremities. Slowly, though, he moved himself forward as more shots splattered the water around him.

Another twenty yards along the shore, he rounded the corner to the little inlet where the Citacea was anchored. He could see the inflatable raft on the water, headed out toward the large boat, and after a moment he could make out three people on the raft. His heart was filled with relief, even as Soh’s men continued to pepper the water around him.

The tide had come in, and the Citacea was in six feet of water, around thirty yards offshore. He would have to swim for it, he knew. He didn’t know whether he had the strength left to make it, but he decided that it was worth a try. In any event, he preferred the prospect of drowning over capture by Soh’s men.

He eased out into the water, and began the long swim.

“Did Cormack make it back?”

Cicero shouted the question to Skip Olney as he and Buddy helped Diamond onto the Citacea.

“Where is he?” Cicero demanded again as he and Buddy climbed aboard.

“Isn’t he with you?” Olney asked, confused.

Cicero shook his head. “He went around to the north to draw their attention. He’s supposed to meet us here!”

“He’s not here yet,” Olney said. “We can’t stay here. We’re completely exposed.”

Olney had barely finished the sentence when they heard shouting from the shore. Looking back up toward the southeast entrance, they could see a steady stream of men burst out onto the hill. They were shouting and running toward the shore—toward the Citacea—guns drawn.

“Shit!” Olney yelled. “We’ve got to get out of here!”