"Either way you look at it," said Pitt, "it's a no-win situation. The wind and sea are rising at an alarming rate. Our boats can't pick them up, and it would be suicide for them to jump into the water and attempt to swim to our ship."

Burch nodded in agreement. "Our only hope is for the British containership to get here in the next half hour. After that we're in God's hands."

"Ms. May," called Pitt. "Please listen to me. Our ship is loaded far beyond capacity. We are also in danger of sinking, due to a crushed hull. You must hold out until the weather slackens or a rescue ship arrives. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand," she echoed. "The wind is blowing the fire aft and the heat is not unbearable."

"Not for long," Pitt warned her. "The Dolphin is swinging around and will begin drifting broadside against the wind and current. The fire and smoke will move closer and pour off to your starboard."

There was a pause, then Amelia said resolutely, "I guess we'll have to break out the marshmallows."

Pitt looked up to the bow, squinting against the spray thrown by the wind. "You're a very intrepid lady. I hope we can meet when this is over. Dinner is on me."

"Maybe . . ." There was a hesitation. "You'll have to tell me your name first."

"My name is Dirk Pitt."

"A strong name. I like that. Over and out."

McFerrin grinned wearily. "She's a gorgeous creature, Pitt. And quite independent when it comes to men."

Pitt grinned back. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

The rains came like a glistening solid wall, not gradually, but in a sudden deluge. And still the Emerald Dolphin burned. Her sides were glowing red as the rain struck the ferocious heat, quickly covering the flaming ship in a vast cloud of steam.

"Bring her within two hundred feet of the hull slow and easy," Burch ordered the helmsman. He was troubled at the pitching and rolling of his ship as she was pounded by the rising waves. He became even more troubled when Chief Engineer House called the bridge.

"The old girl is being hammered down here," he reported. "The leaks are getting worse. I can't guarantee how much longer the pumps can keep up, even with the auxiliaries adding to the discharge."

"We've come under the hull of the cruise ship," replied Burch. "I'm hoping her bulk will protect us from the worst of the storm."

"Every little bit helps."

"Do the best you can."

"It's not easy," grumbled House. "Not when you're climbing over bodies packed tighter than an anchovy jar."

Burch turned to Pitt, who was peering into the wet gloom with the binoculars. "Any sign of the containership or the Aussie frigate?"

"The heavy rain has cut visibility to a bare minimum, but radar has the containership closing within a thousand yards."

Burch took out an old bandanna and wiped the moisture from his brow and neck. "I hope the captain is a good seaman, because he's going to need all the experience he's got."