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"I counted at least twenty frigate birds, sitting on the rocks," she said, pointing to the north shore "If you build a blind, they'll walk by close enough for you to hit theun"

"Roasted bird sounds good to ht's supper or you can hang me by the thumbs," Pitt promised

"Can you pull any other tricks out of your hat besides the goggles?" asked Maeve whimsically

Pitt lay back on the sand with his hands behind his head "I'ht that up After a strenuous afternoon of intense thought, I've arrived at the conclusion that we should move on to a more receptive climate"

Maeve gave" hilanced at Giordino for ave her a you-never-learn look and continued nibbling on his ed boats that can't sail across a swiest we use for our all-expenses-paid cruise to nowhere?"

"Elementary, my dear Fletcher," he said expansively "We build a third boat"

"Build a boat," she said, her voice on the edged laughter

Conversely, Giordino's expression was intense and serious "You think there's a China York's sailboat?"

"No The hull is da with our limited resources York was an experienced sailor, and he obviously didn't see any way it could be refloated But we can, however, utilize the upper deck"

"Why not ued "We're more resourceful than poor Rodney

Our survival skills are far greater than his We can catch enough fish and fowl to keep us going until a ship comes by"

"That's the problem," said Pitt "We can't survive on e can catch alone If Rodney'steeth are any indication, he died from scurvy A dietary lack of vitamin C and a dozen other nutrients I can think of weakened hie of physical erosion, death was just around the corner If a ship does eventually arrive and put a landing party on shore, they'll find four skeletons instead of one I strongly believe it is in our best interests to make every effort to push on while we're still physically capable"

"Dirk is right," Giordino said to Maeve "Our only chance at seeing city lights again is to leave the island"

"Build a boat?" demanded Maeve "With what materials?"

She stood, firs sli, her head cocked like a wary lynx Pitt was as captivated as he had been when they were together on board the Ice Hunter