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“It’s not one of ours,” Captain Winslow said

“Nor is it a yacht with a band and a bar,” Joe replied “But I’ll take it”

The flare had a forty-second life, and the darkness returned once it dropped into the sea

They waited

“There’s no way they didn’t spot that,” Joe insisted

Kurt loaded another flare into the firing cha TV”

He was about to fire the second flare when the sound of the big engines and the reduction gearing changed

“She’s cut her throttles,” Winslow said gleefully

Kurt held off on firing the precious flare Waiting Hoping

A spotlight ca ship It played across the water until it locked onto the orange raft It went dark for a second and then began to flash a e

“Use the flashlight,” Kurt said

Joe nal an SOS in Morse code

More flashes followed from the ship

“They’re coe before Kurt could speak “They’re going to pick us up”

A cheer went through the boat