A red-faced Jupiter carefully set the clock back on the shelf. “Oops.”

“You asshole.” His pilot friend, Milo, smacked the back of his head.

Cate sighed. “The vibrations alone will attract the Megalodon… not that I think it needs any more incentive.”

Jack glared again at the young bearded man, before turning back to the schematics. “Let me say at the outset, there are no easy options left.” He looked up at each of them. “The Coast Guard chopper is still around two hours out. Olander’s boat is gone, and their tiny helicopter only seats two. Plus it doesn’t have the fuel to get even half way to shore.” He exhaled slowly through his nose, staring down at the table for a moment longer. “We have two small dinghies… that will be the final option for when, not if, the Slava sinks to waterline level.”

“We’ll sink? Really sink?” Jupiter straightened.

“Bullshit.” Milo shook his head, one corner of his mouth lifting. “I know for a fact that even whalers like this old clunker can use their empty barrels for extra buoyancy. Don’t worry, this thing aint sinking anytime soon.”

“What barrels?” Vincent raised silver eyebrows. “Didn’t need those, as we’re not whaling.”

“There’re no barrels, no second chances. Understand now?” Jack paused and noticed no one met his eyes, bar Vincent – only the tough Coast Guard officer returned his gaze. The man nodded to him. Jack went on.

“We need to be out of here. We need to at least head towards the approaching Coast Guard chopper to try and shorten the distance. The boat will still sink, but at least it’ll be sinking while we’re being lifted off.” He folded his arms. “So, we need to try and defoul the propeller… from below.”

“Yeah, right,” Jupiter gave them a bitter laugh, but his face was ashen. “Good luck untangling that elasto-fiber material. You’d need to pull this hunk-a-junk up into dry-dock.”

Regina spun, launching a straight right that caught him flush on the chin. He dropped like a sack. Vincent pulled her back, but she pointed down at him. “I vote this sack of shit to be last off.”

Jupiter held up his hands. “Just stating the facts, Eva Braun.”

“Son, just keep your mouth shut… or I’ll let her finish you off.” Vincent ’s eyes blazed with cold fury and Jupiter quickly made a mouth zipping gesture.

Vincent turned back to the table. “I’m going into the water.”

Regina made a small sound in her throat and turned away. Vincent followed her with his eyes. “Unfortunately, it’s the only option that might work.”

She turned back, and he looked apologetic. “Please don’t think for a minute I want to do this. But if we don’t, we’ll all end up like…” He wouldn’t or couldn’t finish.