Page 221 of Hidden Depths

"Yes, son?"

"We're in the middle of a gunfight."

Frank shrugged.

"Exactly why Nathan deserves a drink."

Nathan keyed the radio again.

"Frank, if we live through this, I'll buy the next bottle."

"You've got yourself a deal."

Even I couldn't help smiling.

For one wonderful moment...

Fear loosened its grip.

Then Nathan's voice exploded through the radio.

"MISSILE!"

Every head snapped toward the reef.

Smoke billowed into the sky.

A second rocket launcher.

Another flash.

The missile streaked toward us, skimming only feet above the water.

Ward reacted instantly.

"Hard to starboard!"

I spun the wheel with everything I had.

Sea Whisper leaned sharply.

The missile missed the bow by inches.

Instead—

It slammed into the water directly between us and the charging Mariner's Crown.

The explosion threw a wall of water hundreds of feet into the air.

When the spray cleared...

The silver-haired captain's view of us had vanished behind a curtain of churning sea.

Ward smiled for the first time all day.

"They just blinded their own captain."

I looked at him.