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“We will,” Kurt insisted, feeling confident

He reached into the locker and pulled out the flares, which he stuffed into his breast pocket next to the binoculars He grabbed the life jacket and handed it to Leilani

“Put this on,” he said “Don’t worry, it’s just a precaution”

Next he pulled out the anchor—a fifteen-pound fluke anchor hooked to an anchor rope by a large carabiner He detached the anchor from the rope and hooked it onto the cord that bound the prisoner’s feet The man looked up at Kurt in terror

“Also just a precaution,” Kurt told him

The man’s face showed little faith in that statement

Kurt pulled the gag off the man’s face “I know you understand e talk,” he said “Do you speak English as well?”

The man nodded “I speak … some”

“I don’t suppose you know the story of the little Dutch boy?”

The man stared at him blankly

“This boat is sinking,” Kurt explained, “losing air I can either throw you overboard to lighten our load or you can help us”

“I’ll help,” the man said “Yes, yes, I definite want to help”

“The anchor is on your feet to keep you fro stupid,” Kurt explained, and then he pointed to the forward section “I need you to cover up these two holes and keep the air in”

The -time”

“Good,” Kurt said “’Cause if you don’t, you’re going to hit the bottom of the sea faster than the rest of us”