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their frozen breaths hanging in vaporlike clouds above their heads before condensing and freezing on the walls

The cold itself ht have been tolerated, noteravated by not having had anything to eat since leaving Punta del Este The hijackers ers and crew Ammar's inhuman callousness took its toll as and fear of the unknown the cold sapped their strength, drugged their minds

for the first part of the voyage, the prisoners had survived on nothing but water out of the faucets in the bathroom showers and washbasins But the pipes had frozen, and the torer

The Lady Flah had been refitted to sail tropical seas and carried only a minimum supply of blankets Everyone who came on board in Puerto Rico or Punta del Este had packed for a te in closets at ho several layers of lightweight shirts, pants and socks They wrapped their heads in towels to retain body heat The cold-weather gear they sorely loves

There was no warmth anywhere Anihout the ship He could not afford the luxury Interior heat would have ed the deception

Hala was not the only prisoner awake Most had found it impossible to drop off into a sound sleep They lay as if in a hypnotic trance, aware of their surroundings but unable to make any kind of physical effort

any thoughts of resistance had rapidly drained away under the onslaught

Instead of fighting the hijackers, Captain Collins and his creere reduced to stru gling to stay alive against the nu cold

Hala raised to her elbows as Senator Pitt came into the room

He ray business suit over a blue pinstripe He gave Hala a sue of the past five days had taken away his youthful look, and he looked closer to his true age

"How you holding up?" he asked

"I'd give amely

"for ive more than that"

President De Lorenzo sat up and dropped his feet on the deck "Did someone say hot tea?"

"Just fantasizing, Mr President," replied the Senator "I never thought I'd findto death on a luxurious cruise ship"