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The storm did not so , the rain lashing; in the next it was all over It was as if they had simply passed from one room into the next, one of violence, the other of almost perfect calm With cramped hands, Lore unfastened her straps She had no idea as going on belowdecks, nor did this question, at that moment, concern her very much She was tired and thirsty and badly needed to pee She squatted over the pot she kept in the pilothouse and stepped outside to toss the contents over the side

The clouds had begun to break apart She stood at the rail for asky She had no idea where they were; she hadn’t been able to read the coun They had survived, but at what cost? Their fuel was nearly exhausted Beneath the stern of the Bergensfjord, the screere softly churning, pushing theed from the main hatch and ascended the stairs toward her He took a place beside her at the rail

"I’ve got to admit, it sure is pretty out here," he said "Funny how it’s like that after a storm"

"What’s the situation belowdecks?"

His shoulders were sluue; a bit of soot the bilges working--we should be dry pretty soon You have to hand it to Michael, the guy kne to build a boat"

"Any injuries?"

Rand shrugged "Few broken bones, I heard So no one’s going to want to eat for a week, seeing as hoe’re so low on food The smell is pretty bad down there" He looked at her for a ines? It’s your call"

She considered this question "In a minute," she said

For a while they stood together without talking, watching the sun descend over the starboard side The last of the clouds were separating, lit froht An area of water near the port bow had begun to boil with fish, feeding near the surface As Lore watched, a large bird with black-tipped wings and a yellowish head swooped low over the surface, reached doith its bill--a quick, sharp jab--hauled a fish free, tossed it backward into its gullet, and began to climb away

"Rand That’s a bird"

"I know it’s a bird I’ve seen birds before"

"Not in the middle of the ocean you haven’t"

She darted into the pilothouse and returned with the binoculars Her pulse was racing, her heart was in her mouth She pressed the lenses to her eyes and scanned the horizon

"Anything?"

She held up a hand "Quiet"