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“What kind of ship?” he asked The words came out funny Their lips were nearly frozen

“A nice big yacht,” Joe said “With a few playirls, and a fully stocked bar I think I even hear a jazz band playing so”

“You’re losing it,” Kurt said “But if you must fantasize…”

He stopped

e as it was, he thought he could hear the thruines in the distance as well Had there been any wind at all, he ht not have heard it But the still air fully quiet

He threw the edge of the thermal blanket back, ru?”

“Quiet”

“What?”

“Joe heard a ship, and so did I”

Kurt was staring out into the night If there was a ship out there, its running lights should have been visible in the darkness He saw nothing

“I hear it,” Hayley said “I hear it too”

With an abundance of caution, Kurt considered the possibility ofshipwreck survivors, but usually after days of exposure and dehydration

“Give me a flare,” Kurt said

Joe handed the flare gun to Kurt By now, the thruines could be heard clearly There was a ship out there, running dark for whatever reason andcloser

Kurt aier The flare rocketed straight up, casting a white light down on the sea around thehter It was heading roughly in their direction, though it would miss them to the east