,,*APT] ,,XXVIII
  ,"! IS NO NE$ ( GO+ 96AN EXT5D$
RECITAL ( \R SU6]+ 9 ! SMALL BOAT DUR+ !
_M "DS WE 7 DRIV5 & DRIFT$1 "H & "!1
WILLY-NILLY1 ACR ! OC1N4 ,! HI< W9D BLEW
F ! NOR?-WE/ = TW5TY-F\R H\RS1 :5 X FELL
CALM1 & 9 ! NI<T SPRANG UP F ! S\?-WE/4
,? 0 D1D 9 \R TEE?1 B ,I TOOK 9 ! SEA-
AN*OR & SET SAIL1 HAUL+ A C\RSE ON ! W9D
: TOOK U 9 A S\?-S\?-EA/]LY DIREC;N4 ,X
0 AN EV5 *OICE 2T ? &! WE/-NOR?-WE/]LY
C\RSE : ! W9D P]MITT$2 B ! W>M AIRS (!
S\? FANN$ MY DESIRE =A W>M] SEA & SWAY$
MY DECI.N4
  ,9 ?REE H\RS -- X 0 MIDNI<T1 ,I WELL
REMEMB]1 & Z D>K Z ,I _H "E SE5 X ON !
SEA -- ! W9D1 / BL[+ \ (! S\?-WE/1 ROSE
FURI\SLY1 & ONCE AG ,I 0 -PELL$ 6SET !
SEA-AN*OR4
  ,"D BROKE & F.D ME WAN-EY$ &! OC1N
LA%$ :ITE1 ! BOAT PIT*+1 ALM ON 5D1 6XS
DRAG4 ,WE 7 9 IMM95T DANG] ( 2+ SWAMP$
0! :ITECAPS4 ,Z X WAS1 SPRAY & SPUME
CAME ABO>D 9 S* QUANTITIES T ,I BAIL$
)\T CESS,N4 ,! BLANKETS 7 SOAK+4 ,"EY?+
0 WET EXCEPT ,MAUD1 & %E1 9 OILSK9S1
RU2] BOOTS1 & S\'WE/]1 0 DRY1 ALL B H]
FACE & H&S &A /RAY WISP ( HAIR4 ,%E
RELIEV$ ME AT ! BAIL+-HOLE F "T 6"T1 &
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,ALL ?+S >E RELATIVE4 ,X 0 NO M ?AN A
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! :ITE S1S RO>+ BY1 WE /RU7L$ "? ! "D4
,NI<T CAME1 B NEI ( U SLEPT4 ,"D CAME1 &
/ ! W9D B1T ON \R FACES &! :ITE S1S RO>$
PA/4 ,0! SECOND NI<T ,MAUD 0 FALL+
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&A T>PAUL94 ,%E 0 -P>ATIVELY DRY1 B %E 0
NUMB )! COLD4 ,I FE>$ GRTLY T %E MI<T
DIE 9 ! NI<T2 B "D BROKE1 COLD & *E].S1
)! SAME CL\D$ SKY & B1T+ W9D & RO>+ S1S4
  ,I _H _H NO SLEEP = =TY-EI<T H\RS4 ,I
0 WET & *ILL$ 6! M>R[1 TILL ,I FELT M
D1D ?AN ALIVE4 ,MY BODY 0 /IFF F EX];N Z
WELL Z F COLD1 & MY A*+ MUSCLES GAVE ME
! SEV]E/ TORTURE :5"E ,I US$ !M1 & ,I
US$ !M 3T9U,Y4 ,& ALL ! "T WE 7 2+ DRIV5
(F 96! NOR?-EA/1 DIRECTLY AWAY F ,JAPAN
& T[>D BL1K ,B]+ ,SEA4
  ,& / WE LIV$1 &! BOAT LIV$1 &! W9D
BLEW UNABAT$4 ,9 FACT1 T[>D NI<TFALL (!
?IRD "D X 9CR1S$ A TRIFLE & "S?+ M4 ,!
BOAT'S B[ PLUNG$ "U A CRE/1 & WE CAME "?
QU>T]-FULL ( WAT]4 ,I BAIL$ L A MADMAN4
,! LIABIL;Y ( %IPP+ ANO!R S* SEA 0
ENORM\SLY 9CR1S$ 0! WAT] T WEI<$ ! BOAT
D[N & RO2$ X ( XS BUOYANCY4 ,& ANO!R S*
SEA M1NT ! 5D4 ,:5 ,I _H ! BOAT EMPTY AG
,I 0 =C$ 6TAKE AWAY ! T>PAUL9 : COV]$
,MAUD1 9 ORD] T ,I MI<T LA% X D[N ACR !
B[4 ,X 0 WELL ,I DID1 = X COV]$ ! BOAT
FULLY A ?IRD (! WAY AFT1 & ?REE "TS1 9 !
NEXT S"EAL H\RS1 X FLUNG (F ! BULK (!
D[N-RU%+ WAT] :5 ! B[ %OV$ "U ! S1S4
  ,MAUD'S 3DI;N 0 PITIA#4 ,%E SAT CR\*$
9 ! BOTTOM (! BOAT1 H] LIPS BLUE1 H]
FACE GREY & PLA9LY %[+ ! PA9 %E SU6]$4
,B "E H] EYES LOOK$ BRAVELY AT ME1 & "E
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  ,! WOR/ (! /ORM M/ H BL[N T NI<T1 ?\<
LL ,I NOTIC$ X4 ,I _H SU3UMB$ & SLEPT ":
,I SAT 9 ! /]N-%EETS4 ,! MORN+ (! F\R?
"D F.D ! W9D DIM9I%$ 6A G5TLE :ISP]1 !
SEA DY+ D[N &! SUN %9+ ^U U4 ,OH1 ! B.S$
SUN6 ,H[ WE BA!D \R POOR BODIES 9 XS
DELICI\S W>M?1 REVIV+ L BUGS & CRAWL+
?+S AF A /ORM4 ,WE SMIL$ AG1 SD AMUS+
?+S1 & WAX$ OPTIMI/IC OV] \R SITU,N4
,YET X WAS1 IF ANY?+1 WORSE ?AN "E4 ,WE
7 F>!R F ,JAPAN ?AN ! NI<T WE LEFT !
,<O/4 ,NOR CD ,I M ?AN R\<LY GUESS \R
LATITUDE & L;GITUDE4 ,AT A CALCUL,N (A
TWO-MILE DRIFT P] H\R1 DUR+ ! SEV5TY &
ODD H\RS (! /ORM1 WE _H BE5 DRIV5 AT L1/
"O HUNDR$ & FIFTY MILES 6! NOR?-EA/4 ,B
0 S* CALCULAT$ DRIFT CORRECT8 ,= ALL ,I
KNEW1 X MI<T H BE5 F\R MILES P] H\R 9/1D
( TWO4 ,9 : CASE WE 7 ANO!R HUNDR$ &
FIFTY MILES 6! BAD4
  ,": WE 7 ,I DID N "K1 ?\< "! 0 Q A
LIKELIHOOD T WE 7 9 ! VIC9;Y (! ,<O/4
,"! 7 S1LS AB U1 & ,I 0 PREP>$ 6SI<T A
S1L+-S*OON] AT ANY "T4 ,WE DID SI<T "O1
9 ! AFN1 :5 ! NOR?-WE/ BREEZE _H SPRUNG
UP FRE%LY ONCE M4 ,B ! /RANGE S*OON] LO/
XF ON ! SKY-L9E & WE AL"O O3UPI$ !
CIRCLE (! SEA4
  ,CAME "DS ( FOG1 :5 EV5 ,MAUD'S _S
DROOP$ & "! 7 NO M]RY ^WS ^U H] LIPS2
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LIV$ & /RU7L$ 6LIVE2 "DS ( SLEET & W9D &
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SID$1 S _M-MOOD$ -- 8PROT1N-MOOD$0 ,I
CALL$ H]4 ,B ,I CALL$ H] ?1 & O!R & DE>]
?+S1 9 MY ?"\S ONLY4 ,?\< ! DECL>,N ( MY
LOVE URG$ & TREM#D ON MY T;GUE A ?\S&
"TS1 ,I KNEW T X 0 NO "T = S* A DECL>,N4
,IF = NO O!R R1SON1 X 0 NO "T1 :5 "O 0
PROTECT+ & TRY+ 6SAVE A WOMAN1 6ASK T
WOMAN = H] LOVE4 ,DELICATE Z 0 ! SITU,N1
N AL"O 9 ? B 9 O!R WAYS1 ,I FLATT]$ MYF
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ADV]TISE;T (! LOVE ,I FELT = H]4 ,WE 7 L
GD -RADES1 & WE GREW BETT] -RADES Z !
"DS W5T BY4
  ,"O ?+ AB H] : SURPRIS$ ME 0 H] LACK (
TIMID;Y & FE>4 ,! T]RI# SEA1 ! FRAIL
BOAT1 ! /ORMS1 ! SU6]+1 ! /RANGE;S &
ISOL,N (! SITU,N1 -- ALL T %D H F"R5$ A
ROBU/ WOMAN1 -- SEEM$ 6MAKE NO IMPRES.N
^U H] :O _H "KN LIFE ONLY 9 XS MO/
%ELT]$ & 3SUMMATELY >TIFICIAL ASPECTS1 &
:O 0 H]F ALL FIRE & DEW & MI/1 SUBLIMAT$
_S1 ALL T 0 S(T & T5D] & CL++ 9 WOMAN4
,& YET ,I AM WR;G4 ,%E ,,0 TIMID &
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QUALMS (! FLE% %E 0 HEIR TO1 B ! FLE%
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F/ & ALW _S1 E!R1LIZ$ ESS;E ( LIFE1 CALM
Z H] CALM EYES1 & SURE ( P]MAN;E 9 !
*ANG+ ORD] (! UNIV]SE4
  ,CAME "DS ( /ORM1 "DS & NI<TS ( /ORM1
:5 ! OC1N M5AC$ U ) XS RO>+ :ITE;S1 &!
W9D SMOTE \R /RU7L+ BOAT )A ,TITAN'S
BU6ETS4 ,& "E WE 7 FLUNG (F1 F>!R &
F>!R1 6! NOR?-EA/4 ,X 0 9 S* A /ORM1 &!
WOR/ T WE _H EXP]I;ED1 T ,I CA/ A WE>Y
GL.E 6LEEW>D1 N 9 QUE/ ( ANY?+1 B M F !
WE>I;S ( FAC+ ! ELE;TAL /RIFE1 & 9 MUTE
APP1L1 ALM1 6! WRA?;L P[]S 6C1SE & LET U
BE4 ,:AT ,I SAW ,I CD N AT F/ 2LIEVE4
,"DS & NI<TS ( SLEEP.S;S & ANXIETY _H
D\BT.S TURN$ MY H1D4 ,I LOOK$ BACK AT
,MAUD1 6ID5TIFY MYF1 Z X W]E1 9 "T &
SPACE4 ,! SI<T ( H] DE> WET *EEKS1 H]
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T MY VI.N 0 / H1L?Y4 ,AG ,I TURN$ MY
FACE 6LEEW>D1 & AG ,I SAW ! JUTT+
PROMONTORY1 BLACK & HI< & NAK$1 ! RAG+
SURF T BROKE AB XS BASE & B1T XS FRONT
HI< UP ) SP\T+ F.TA9S1 ! BLACK & =BI45
COA/-L9E RUNN+ T[>D ! S\?-EA/ & FR+$ )A
TREM5D\S SC>F ( :ITE4
  8,MAUD10 ,I SD4 8,MAUD40
  ,%E TURN$ H] H1D & 2HELD ! SI<T4
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SWIM80
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  8,NEI C ,I10 ,I SD4 8,S WE M/ GET
A%ORE )\T SWIMM+1 9 "S OP5+ 2T ! ROCKS
"? : WE C DRIVE ! BOAT & CLAMB] \4 ,B WE
M/ 2 QK1 MO/ QK -- & SURE40
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FEEL1 = %E LOOK$ AT ME ) T UNFALT]+ GAZE
( H]S & SD3
  8,I H N ?ANK$ Y YET = ALL Y H D"O = ME
B -- 0
  ,%E HESITAT$1 Z IF 9 D\BT H[ BE/ 6^W
H] GRATITUDE4
  8,WELL80 ,I SD1 BRUT,Y1 = ,I 0 N Q
PL1S$ ) H] ?ANK+ ME4
  8,Y MI<T HELP ME10 %E SMIL$4
  8,6AC"KL$GE YR OBLIG,NS 2F Y DIE8 ,N
AT ALL4 ,WE >E N GO+ 6DIE4 ,WE % L& ON T
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D"O40
  ,I SPOKE /\TLY1 B ,I DID N 2LIEVE A
^W4 ,NOR 0 ,I PROMPT$ 6LIE "? FE>4 ,I
FELT NO FE>1 ?\< ,I 0 SURE ( D1? 9 T
BOIL+ SURGE AM;G/ ! ROCKS : 0 RAPIDLY
GR[+ NE>]4 ,X 0 IMPOSSI# 6HOI/ SAIL &
CLAW (F T %ORE4 ,! W9D WD 9/ANTLY
CAPSIZE ! BOAT2 ! S1S WD SWAMP X ! MO;T
X FELL 96! TR\<2 &1 2SS1 ! SAIL1 LA%$ 6!
SP>E O>S1 DRA7$ 9 ! SEA AH1D ( U4
  ,Z ,I SAY1 ,I 0 N AFRAID 6MEET MY [N
D1?1 "!1 A FEW HUNDR$ Y>DS 6LEEW>D2 B ,I
0 APPALL$ AT ! ?"\ T ,MAUD M/ DIE4 ,MY
CURS$ IMAG9,N SAW H] B1T5 & MANGL$ AG/ !
ROCKS1 & X 0 TOO T]RI#4 ,I /ROVE 6-PEL
MYF 6?9K WE WD MAKE ! L&+ SAFELY1 & S ,I
SPOKE1 N :AT ,I 2LIEV$1 B :AT ,I PREF]R$
62LIEVE4
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&=A MO;T ,I 5T]TA9$ ! WILD IDEA ( SEIZ+
,MAUD 9 MY >MS & L1P+ OV]BO>D4 ,!N ,I
RESOLV$ 6WAIT1 & AT ! LA/ MO;T1 :5 WE
5T]$ ON ! F9AL /RET*1 6TAKE H] 9 MY >MS
& PROCLAIM MY LOVE1 &1 ) H] 9 MY
EMBRACE1 6MAKE ! DESP]ATE /RU7LE & DIE4
  ,9/9CTIVELY WE DREW CLOS] TGR 9 !
BOTTOM (! BOAT4 ,I FELT H] MITT5$ H& -E
\ 6M9E4 ,& ?US1 )\T SPEE*1
WE WAIT$ ! 5D4 ,WE 7 N F> (F ! L9E ! W9D
MADE )! WE/]N $GE (! PROMONTORY1 & ,I
WAT*$ 9 ! HOPE T "S SET (! CURR5T OR S5D
(! SEA WD DRIFT U PA/ 2F WE R1*$ ! SURF4
  8,WE % G CLE>10 ,I SD1 )A 3FID;E : ,I
KNEW DCVD NEI ( U4
  8,0,GOD1 WE ,,W G CLE>60 ,I CRI$1 FIVE
M9UTES LAT]4
  ,! OA? LEFT MY LIPS 9 MY EXCITE;T -- !
F/1 ,I D 2LIEVE1 9 MY LIFE1 UN.S 8TR\#
X10 AN EXPLETIVE ( MY Y\?1 2 A3.T$ AN
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  8,Y H 3V9C$ ME ( YR S9C];Y10 %E SD1 )A
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CLE>40
  ,I _H SE5 A 4TANT H1DL& PA/ ! EXTREME
$GE (! PROMONTORY1 & Z WE LOOK$ WE CD
SEE GR[ ! 9T]V5+ COA/L9E ( :AT 0
EVID5TLY A DEEP COVE4 ,AT ! SAME "T "!
BROKE ^U \R E>S A 3T9U\S & MI<TY BELL[+4
,X P>TOOK (! MAGNITUDE & VOLUME ( 4TANT
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ABV ! CRA% (! SURF & TRAVELL+ DIRECTLY 9
! TEE? (! /ORM4 ,Z WE PASS$ ! PO9T !
:OLE COVE BUR/ ^U \R VIEW1 A HALF-MOON (
:ITE S&Y B1* ^U : BROKE A HUGE SURF1 & :
0 COV]$ ) MYRIADS ( S1LS4 ,X 0 F !M T !
GRT BELL[+ W5T UP4
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SAV$4 ,"! M/ 2 M5 & CRUIS]S 6PROTECT !M
F ! S1L-HUNT]S4 ,POSSIBLY "! IS A /,N
A%ORE40
  ,B Z ,I /UDI$ ! SURF : B1T ^U ! B1*1
,I SD1 8,/ BAD1 B N S BAD4 ,& N[1 IF !
GODS 2 TRULY K9D1 WE % DRIFT 0T NEXT
H1DL& & -E ^U A P]FECTLY %ELT]$ B1*1 ":
WE MAY L& )\T WETT+ \R FEET40
  ,&! GODS 7 K9D4 ,! F/ & SECOND H1DL&S
7 DIRECTLY 9 L9E )! S\?-WE/ W9D2 B ONCE
>.D ! SECOND1 -- & WE W5T P]IL\SLY NE>1
-- WE PICK$ UP ! ?IRD H1DL&1 / 9 L9E )!
W9D &)! O!R TWO4 ,B ! COVE T 9T]V5$6 ,X
P5ETRAT$ DEEP 96! L&1 &! TIDE1 SETT+ IN1
DRIFT$ U "U ! %ELT] (! PO9T4 ,"H ! SEA 0
CALM1 SAVE =A H1VY B SMOO? GR.D-SWELL1 &
,I TOOK 9 ! SEA-AN*OR & 2GAN 6R[4 ,F !
PO9T ! %ORE CURV$ AWAY1 M & M 6! S\? &
WE/1 UNTIL AT LA/ X 4CLOS$ A COVE )9 !
COVE1 A LL L&-LOCK$ H>B\R1 ! WAT] LEVEL
Z A POND1 BROK5 ONLY 0T9Y RIPPLES ":
VAGRANT BR1?S & WISPS (! /ORM HURTL$ D[N
F OV] ! FR[N+ WALL ( ROCK T BACK$ ! B1*
A HUNDR$ FEET 9%ORE4
  ,"H 7 NO S1LS :AT"E4 ,! BOAT'S /]N
T\*$ ! H>D %+LE4 ,I SPRANG \1 EXT5D+ MY
H& 6,MAUD4 ,! NEXT MO;T %E 0 2S ME4 ,Z
MY F+]S REL1S$ H]S1 %E CLUT*$ = MY >M
HA/ILY4 ,AT ! SAME MO;T ,I SWAY$1 Z AB
6FALL 6! S&4 ,? 0 ! />TL+ E6ECT (!
CESS,N ( MO;N4 ,WE _H BE5 S L;G ^U !
MOV+1 ROCK+ SEA T ! /A# L& 0 A %OCK 6U4
,WE EXPECT$ ! B1* 6LIFT UP ? WAY & T1 &!
ROCKY WALLS 6SW+ BACK & =? L ! SIDES (A
%IP2 & :5 WE BRAC$ \RVS1 AUTOMATIC,Y1 =
^! V>I\S EXPECT$ MOVE;TS1 _! NON-O3URR;E
Q OV]CAME \R EQUILIBRIUM4
  8,I RE,Y M/ SIT D[N10 ,MAUD SD1 )A
N]V\S LAU< &A DIZZY GE/URE1 & =?) %E SAT
D[N ON ! S&4
  ,I ATT5D$ 6MAK+ ! BOAT SECURE & JO9$
H]4 ,?US WE L&$ ON ,5D1V\R ,ISL&1 Z WE
CAME 6X1 L&-SICK F L;G CU/OM (! SEA4