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He looked up at Geinar Olazed and listless eyes

"Why did you save me? Why didn't you let me die with my ship?"

O from severe shock, but he felt no pity for the ent was trained to accept His duty came before all consideration of compassion

"I've no time for rituals of the sea," he said coldly "The noble captain standing on the bridge saluting the flag as his ship sinks under hie State Security needs you, Pokofsky, and I need you to identify the Aislators"

"They're probably dead," Pokofsky muttered distantly

"Then we'll have to prove it," Ombrikov snapped ruthlessly "My superiors won't accept less than positive identification of their bodies Nor can we overlook the possibility they may still be alive out there in the water"

Pokofsky placed his hands over his face and shuddered "I can't-" Before the words were out of his ed him to his feet and shoved him out on the open deck

"Damn you!" he shouted "Look for them!"

Pokofsky clenched his jaws and stared at the appalling reality of the floating wreckage and hundreds of struggling men, women and children He choked off a sound deep inside him, his face blanched

"No!" he shouted He leaped over the side so quickly, suddenly, neither O and dove deep until the white of his uniform was lost to view on the surface

The boats from the container ship hauled in the survivors as fast as they could reach theo before returning to the center of the flotsam to continue the rescue The sea was filled with debris of all kinds, dead bodies of all ages, and those still fighting to live Fortunately the water arm and none suffered from exposure, nor did the threat of sharks ever materialize

One boat jockeyed close to Giordino, who helped lift the mother and her two children onboard Then he scrambled over the freeboard and motioned for the hel the last few to be fished out

As the boat slipped alongside, Pitt raised his hand in greeting to the short, stocky figure that leaned over the side

"Hello," Pitt said, grinning winely "Are we ever glad to see you"

"Happy to be of service," replied the steward Pitt had passed earlier at the elevator He was also grinning, baring a set of large upper teeth parted by a wide gap