Right, I said, raising my voice on deck to make sure I could be heard.

There are four of us, me up front and three others lounging around in deck chairs.

What have we got so far?

The anchor's bad, Cole answered, sitting upright to rub a hand over his shaved head.

I'm not sure I'll be able to get it up, it's held up for 30 years and isn't coming

easy.

Well, we kind of need to get it up, I replied, especially if we're going to get this

baby back to a dock.

If we need to, he said, we can cut it, but I'm not sure we've got anything that can

do the job.

I'll speak to Kazem's men, I replied, how's the rudder?

Looking good, Gareth answered, the rudder is good.

Anything else?

We found a leak, Charlie said, crossing a boot to the side.

Bottom deck is flooded, but we can't be sure what the water level is still.

A leak's bad news, Gareth groaned.

It is, I said, let's get down there, Charlie, Cole, you ready for a dive?

Aye aye, they cried, already brought the suits up, Charlie added.

Sounds good, I said, let's get going.

With that, Charlie and Cole left.

Out of all of us, they're the hardest job, and from the keen looks in the rise as they

made the way below the deck, they took it seriously.

...