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The saws had silenced; the steel had been cut On the ship’s starboard flank, a gaping hole revealed the hidden decks and passageithin The sun was receding, sparkling over the channel’s waters; the spotlights had been lit

Rand was operating the crane From the floor of the dock, Michael watched the first plate descending in its cradle Voices volleyed through the dock, more froht was achieved Men scurried over the surface, hauided the plate froe steel sheet way to the deck

"So far so good," Lore said

They were, i hours were like a funnel, drawing the; there would be no second chances

Lore went to the rail and yelled down a barrage of orders, trying to enerators and the whine of the guns; Michael ainst the side They had six o

"Want to kno they did it?"

Lore looked at hiers killed themselves"

He had not meant to raise the subject It seemed to have arisen of its own accord, one more secret he wanted to be rid of

"Okay"

"They’d saved soh They sealed the doors and rerouted the engine’s exhaust back into the ship’s ventilation It would have been like falling asleep"

Lore’s face showed no expression Then, with a s"

"Maybe I shouldn’t have"

"Don’t apologize"

He realized why he had told her If it ca