“Outtamyway!” With a whiteeyed stare the man shouldered Jake aside despite Carey’s size.

He tried frantically to recruit a couple more men before giving up. No Samaritans here. It was like trying to snag a steer out of a thirstcrazed herd of cattle stampeding for a water hole. He couldn’t blame them for running for their lives. He’d be dragging Myra for high ground if she were free. He decided his fellow passengers would be useless. He had to find someone from the crew. Struggling to keep his footing against the slant of the deck, he joined the throng heading for the higher decks.

Angelo had made a quick survey of the ship and didn’t like what he saw, especially on the starboard side, which was dipping ever lower toward the sea.

Carry’s soiled pajama top so he wouldn’t lose him. ,They dashed down one staircase to the upper deck, where most of the firstclass cabins were. By then only a few oilcovered stragglers were making their way along the hallways.

Angelo was shocked when he saw Mrs. Carry. She looked as if she were in a medieval torture rack. Her eyes were dosed, and for an instant he thought she was dead. But at her husband’s gentle touch her eyelids fluttered.

“Told you I’d be back, darling,” Carry said. “Look, Angelo here has come to, help.”

Angelo took her hand and gallantly kissed it. She gave him a melting smile.

Both men grabbed the bed frame and pulled, grunting more with frustration than exertion, ignoring the pain from the sharp metal edge cutting into the flesh of their palms. The frame gave a few inches more than it had earlier. As soon asthey let go, it sprang back into place. With each attempt, Mrs. Carey clamped her eyes and lips tight. Carry cursed. He’d, gotten his way. so often with simple strength, he’d become used to winning. But not this time.

“We need more men,” he said, panting.

Angelo shrugged with embarrassment.. “Most of the crew is already on the lifeboats.”

“Jeezus,” Carry whispered. It had been hard enough finding Angelo. Carey thought for a moment, liking at the problem from an engineer’s point of view.

“We could do it, just the two of us,” he said finally. “If we had a jack.”

“What?” The waiter looked puzzled.

A jack” Carey struggled for the right word, gave up, and made pumping motions with his hand. “For an automobile.”

Angelo’s dark eyes brightened with understanding. “Ali,” he said. A lever. For an auto.”

“That’s right,” Carey said with growing excitement. “Look, we could put it here and pry the frame away from the wall so we’ll have space to pull Myra out.”

“Si. The garage. I come back.”

“Yes, that’s right, the garage.” Carry glanced at his wife’s stricken face. “But you must hurry.”

Carry was never a man to take things for granted. Angelo might bolt for the nearest lifeboat as soon as he left the cabin. Carey wouldn’t blame him. He gripped Angelo’s elbow.