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"There's no guarantee she can't or won't founder under a heavy sea," Pitt hedged "Either way, it's stupid to risk any more lives than we have to"

"Let ht" Drury "Except for you and Giordino, the rest of us are supposed to haul ass and ditch everything we've busted our balls to achieve over the last nine months just so's we can hide on the Capricorn till the storm blows over? Is that the idea?"

"You go to the head of the class, Drummer"

"Man, you're out of your gourd"

"Impossible," Spencer said "It takes four men just to oversee the pumps"

"And the hull below the waterline has to be sounded around the clock for new leaks," Gunn added

"You heroes are all alike," Dru noble sacrifices to save others Let's face it; ain't no o men can ride herd on this old tub I vote we all stay"

Spencer turned and read the faces of his six-man crew They all stared back at him out of eyes red-rimmed with lack of sleep and nodded in chorus Then Spencer faced Pitt again "Sorry, great leader, but Spencer and hisin there"

"I'm with you," Woodson said solemnly

"Count me in," said Gunn

Chief Bascoin' your pardon, sir, butaround too That cable out there has to be checked every hour during the storrease applied to the fair-lead to prevent a break"

"Sorry, Pitt, ree of satisfaction "You lose"

The sound of Sturgis's helicopter was heard hovering for a landing over the lounge roof Pitt shrugged resignedly and said, "Well that settles it then We all sink or swiether" Then he cracked a tired set some rest and some food in your stomachs It may be your last chance A few hours from noe'll be up to our eyeballs in the front quadrant of the hurricane And, I don't have to draw a picture of e can expect"

He swung on his heels and walked out the door to the helicopter pad Not a bad perforht to himself Not a bad performance at all He'd never be nominated for an Acadeht it convincing and that's all that really mattered

Jack Sturgis was a short, thineyes, the kind woarette holder between his teeth and jutted his chin forward in a show reminiscent of Franklin Roosevelt He had just climbed down fro for soear when Pitt stepped onto the pad