Mitch moved swiftly. He lifted the child and was up through the hatch in a flash. She lunged after them, and was barely topside as he reached the rail. He lifted Louie overhead to hurl him to the water astern. She got his arm.

“No!” she yelled into his ear. “Damn it! Mitch, it’s true!"

Mitch froze. Slowly he lowered Louie. Louie leaped to the dock and turned. His face contorted. “Bad woman!” He screamed. Mitch moved and Louie ran.

“So,” muttered Mitch dully, “you didn’t get the cable?” She shook her head. “No Royal Papeete,” she murmured. “No cable. Mitch, I would have told you!”

“And that we’ll never know.” He stepped forward, started the engine, and tossed off the sternline. Hans came down from the bar and threw aboard their bow-line. For a moment Linda Lee was pressed against the dock by a cool hard gust from Mont Pahia. The bumpers squealed. He ordered Lindy ashore.

“I’m staying. To help tie her up.” She grasped the mizzen firmly.

“I’m not going,” he said softly, “to his goddamn pen. You know that, don’t you?”

“Why not?” she begged.

“The rent’s too fucking high.”

She stayed aboard. If he wanted to anchor out, she would take her chances too. He slammed the gearshift viciously into reverse. The engine, still cold, screamed in protest. He backed off, ignoring Hans waving goodbye from the dock and Louie watching from the road.

They charged full forward, full left rudder, vomiting smoke. The stern shaved the dock by inches. Star of Peace had left her mooring, heading for the pass. Mitch, churning the lagoon at full power, overtook her in half a mile. He cut his throttle, drew close, and yelled to Graham at the wheel. When he was through, Jean-Paul’s hurricane-hole was lost to Linda Lee. Star of Peace sheered off, turned back, and headed for Faanui Bay.

Lindy waited for Mitch to head for an anchorage and drop a hook. But the bowsprit stayed granite-steady on the pass. And the seas were pounding the reef in huge, onrushing walls that spilled into the lagoon like water over a shattered dam. One out of three rollers broke in the channel itself. A mile short of the entrance she could already feel the heave.

“Mitch?” she cried, grabbing his arm.

“Sea room,” he said tonelessly. His eyes were unreadable. “Shall I take you back?” She shook her head and he gently removed her hand.

At last she felt that she could cry, but she was damned if she would

Part III - Day

PART III

Day

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1