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The trees, clearly visible, were clustered on the small areas of sand that filled the cracks of the rocks

Pitt now realized the island was much closer than it had seeht or nine kilo the i pulled over the horizon

Pitt took a bearing on the island, noting that it precisely matched the kea's course Next he checked the wind direction and drift, and determined that the current would carry them around the northern tip

They would have to sail southeast on a starboard tack as Maeve had, aination

"The little lady wins a prize," Pitt announced "We're within sight of land"

Both Maeve and Giordino struggled to their feet, clung to Pitt and gazed at their distant hope of refuge

"She's no rin

"I told you the kea would lead us to a safe harbor," Maeve whispered softly in Pitt's ear

Pitt did not allow himself to be carried away by elation "We're not there yet We'll have to replace the sail and bail like hell if we're to land on its shore"

Giordino judged the distance separating them from the island, and his expression sobered considerably "Our home-away-from-home won't make it," he predicted "She'll split in two before we're halfway"

The sail was raised, and any length of line that could he spared was used to tie the splitting hull together With Maeve at the rudder, Giordino bailing like a crazythe water in sheets over the side with his bare hands, the ruptured boat set its bow directly toward the s last they had visible proof that Pitt's navigation had paid off

Theexhaustion had dropped from Pitt and Giordino like a heavy rock They entered a zone where they were no longer theical zone where another world of stress and suffering had noIt didn't ony later, as long as their sheer determination and refusal to accept defeat carried the shore They were aware of the pain screa from their shoulders and backs, but the awareness was little more than an abstract protest froed elsewhere

The wind filled the sail, shoving the boat on a course for the solitary outcrop on the horizon But the heartless sea was not about to release the as it ran up against the shore and flowing in a loop past the outer li to push theness of the Pacific

"I think we're being swept around it," Maeve said fearfully

Facing forward as he frantically scooped the surging water out of the boat, Pitt seldoht they were seeing only one island, but as they approached within two kilometers he sao An arm of the sea, about a hundred meters in width, separated one from the other He could also h the gap between the islands