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“Too bad this isn’t the engine rooe he could cause back there “But it’ll have to do”

Another burst of gunfire rang out and the spotlights swung around overhead until they pointed down the starboard quarter

Kurt scrae capstan A fierce-looking metal hook, known as a devil’s claw, secured the chain

A check of the control panel told him it was a standard type He activated the power, eased the chain back, and unhooked the claw

He considered dropping the anchor until it caught the seafloor The average depth of the Persian Gulf was only a hundred fifty feet, and they had plenty of chain for that But the anchor itself was a fluke type With the yacht traveling at such a high rate of speed, it would literally fly once it hit the water like a kite on the breeze

Even if it did reach the seafloor and catch, it would just rip out the capstan and pull free froth of chain—to as known as the bitter end—it wouldn’t even do that, as the last link was designed to break under such a load

Despite the confusion it would cause, cose wouldn’t help his friends much Kurt made some quick mental calculations and pressed the release button The chain began to play out, the fifty-pound links chattering loudly as they went

The sound reached all the way to the bridge, and a warning light flashed on the control panel

“Captain,” the hel the port anchor”

It was Acosta who replied, pushing past the captain “What do you mean?”

“Someone’s released it”

The anchor hit the water with a splash and sla of the ih the ship

“The intruder is still aboard!” Acosta said “That’s e couldn’t find hiht on the foredeck!”

Acosta raced to the stubby bridge wing and watched as the spotlight changed its ai a shape on the deck “Kill him!”

Two of his men opened fire Sparks lit out around the , it wasn’t an easy shot None of the bullets found their mark, and the intruder quickly ducked behind the bulkhead