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They’d fallen well short of those goals By at least a hundred miles

“We can’t get there on the gas we have left”

“But we can’t just stay here,” she said

“We have one gallon of fuel,” he said “We’re not wasting it and then wishing we had it”

Leilani stared at hi “I don’t want to die”

“Neither do I,” Kurt said “Neither does Ishht, Ishmael?”

“Right,” Ish-time”

“And we’re not going to die,” Kurt said “Just stay calm”

She nodded, still near the aft section, trying to keep the cylinder fro

“Might as well move up front,” he said “That one’s had it”

Leilani let go of the rubber fabric and ht up front, the rear corner rose a fraction and the boat ed a bit less

Kurt looked out froain Frouessed it was three o’clock or so He aiting for nightfall Once the stars came out, he could determine more exactly where they were and they could ly

Kurt let his gaze fall to the horizon and watched as a strange effect took hold It was soe on an open road in the desert He blinked twice as if his eyes were deceiving him, but the effect only intensified

Without a sound the sea began to shimmer It wasn’t the dappled sun on the water that every mariner and amateur painter knows so well but an almost effervescent appearance

It was brightest to the west, in line with the afternoon sun, but he could see the sa to the east, north and south as well