A moment later, the rubber floor thudded sharply, as if something were trying to punch its way through.

“Sharks!” Geri yelled.

Before we could absorb those words, the floor thudded again. Then, suddenly, the raft shot forward and we all tumbled over. It stopped after a few seconds, spun to the left, then shot forward again.

“They’re dragging us!” Geri yelled. “Hold on!”

Everyone grabbed for the safety ropes. The raft surged ahead. Then the front half lifted and I saw the gray-and-white flesh of a massive fish, as if it were trying to tip us over. Geri, Nevin, and Jean Philippe tumbled forward and the goods were scattered, some spilling into the ocean.

“Save the stuff!” Lambert yelled. I grabbed the flare gun and the bailer, and I saw Mrs. Laghari raise up to retrieve the binoculars, which had tangled with her blue gown and fallen into the water. The raft jolted wildly, and she lost her balance and toppled overboard.

“Oh my god!” Nina yelled. “Pull her in!”

I scrambled to the edge but Mrs. Laghari was just beyond my reach, flailing her arms and spitting water. She seemed too shocked to scream.

“Stay still!” Geri yelled. “Let us get you! Don’t move!” She grabbed a paddle to pull us closer. Mrs. Laghari kept smacking her arms on the surface.

“Get her NOW, Benji!” Geri screamed. I leaned over with my arms outstretched, but before I could make contact, Mrs. Laghari disappeared in a spray of seawater. It was like she’d been hit by a missile. I fell back in horror. To this moment, I cannot shake that image, Annabelle. She just blew sideways and was gone.

“Where is she?” Nina screamed.

Geri spun left and right. “Oh, no, no, no . . .”

We saw a spread of red blood on the water.

We did not see Mrs. Laghari again.

I dropped onto the raft floor, gasping for air. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. I caught a glimpse of the Lord, who held little Alice in his grip. He turned my way as if he were looking right through me.

Four

Land

LeFleur drove with his body slightly twisted. The plastic bag was tucked inside his shirt, and he was doing his best to hide it from Rom. Not that Rom seemed interested. He stared out the rolled-down window, the breeze swirling his wavy hair.

LeFleur had only been able to read the first paragraphs of the notebook. When he tried to turn the page, it tore in his hands. Fearful of doing more damage, he slid the notebook back into the bag. But he had seen enough. The experts were wrong. Passengers had survived the sinking of the Galaxy. For now, he was the only one who knew.