Page 47 (1/2)

“That’s right,” Devlin mumbled, “you sleep I’ll do all the work as usual”

He cast off the bowlines and then fired up the s his way across the crowded harbor

S a monstrous bulk carrier out into the channel, while crewainst rust and corrosion, scampered over other vessels like crabs on the rocks

Devlin guided the launch past all this and out into the anchorage He kept a fair course,ships, until a particular vessel caught his eye

Slowing the launch just a bit, Devlin stared at a black-hulled vessel with a dark gray superstructure It looked vaguely fah the dark paint was neither festive nor striking The more he studied the ship, the odder her appearance was to him She didn’t seem to carry any lifeboats, radar masts, or even antennas In fact, she carried none of the nores that sprout from modern ships

In his inebriated state, Devlin struggled to n of activity The ship itself reray color was like that of charred steal, but the coating wasn’t soot, she’d been deliberately tinted that way

Subconsciously, Devlin angled the launch toward her,around the bow There he spotted so unmistakable

“It can’t be,” he said out loud

In front of hi of a hasty repair job Plates of different thickness and consistency had been welded and riveted into place to cover a breach in the hull The heavy black paint covered it all, but the jagged, H-like shape of the repair was unmistakable

He shouted to Keane “Wake up,” he said, “you have to see this”

Keane grunted so and rolled over

“Keane?!”

No response Devlin gave up on him and turned back to the ship He ide awake now

“You’re a bloody ghost,” he whispered, edging closer to the black hulk “A bloody ghost or a bloody trick”

He was stillvarious curses of disbelief when the launch buainst the ship He reached out and touched her There was an odd, almost rubbery feel to the paint But the ship itself was real enough