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He’d been exposed to the Enervuas It had to be that woman Somehow, she’d outwitted him He didn’t even knoho she was, but he couldn’t hate her more

Water quickly rose around him He thrashed hi for help, but he could form no words His voice became the distressed wail of a terrified animal

Polk continued his pitiful cry until it was doused by the water covering his face

SEVENTY-SIX

The Gatorup Linc Next to hi water with Eric Eddie and Raven had already been picked up by Linda, and they were on the deck with MacD

They caside and pulled Eric out of the water, then Sylvia Linc was next

Finally, Juan kicked hi a rip with his free hand on Linc’s life jacket to keep hi back into the water

“Go, Linda,” he shouted

She gunned the diesel, and the Gator rose until its hull was gliding across the surface

Behind them, the superstructure and cranes of the Centaurus were all that was visible as water bubbled around it The Sydney Harbour Bridge and opera house glea the hundreds of sailboats and pleasure yachts that had gathered to observe the New Year’s Eve celebration

“Midnight co up,” MacD yelled over the wind “Fivefourthreetwoone”

Fireworks shot up along the entire arch of the bridge in a glorious display of color Glittering showers of sparkling crackers rained from its side

Not three hundred yards away, the last of the Centaurus disappeared into the harbor To punctuate its deht flash erupted underneath the surface as hundreds of rockets detonated si a dome of white foa out waves that diminished in size rapidly as they rippled in all directions

The water settled again, and the flash vanished as suddenly as it had appeared

Linda slowed the Gator and brought it to a stop