Jack Beale 00 - Dangerous Shoals

futile.
    The rolling motion of the boat and the smell of diesel were making her nauseous. She managed to slip and slide across the cabin floor to Jack before she lost the battle and vomited all over him. Had circumstances been different, it might have been funny. She managed to rip the tape off of his mouth, and he shouted at her. “Max, get out of here. The boat is going to sink and it’s about to catch fire.”
    “I’m not leaving without you.” With that she stood and lurched across the cabin to the cabinet where the kitchen knives were kept. She grabbed one and lurched back. First, she cut his feet free and then his arms before dropping the knife.
    He swung his legs over the edge of the berth and sat up. “Thanks.” The boat was becoming increasingly unstable. It was now rolling from gunwale to gunwale, making it was nearly impossible to stand, and Max was thrown onto him. He wrapped his arms around her to prevent her from falling.
    Before she could respond, they heard a crackling and popping sound, and the cabin began to fill with smoke. The sodium was beginning to come in contact with the seawater and ignite. Flames and heavy smoke could be seen in the forward cabin. “Max. Get out!” Jack shouted as he pushed her toward the companionway. It was all either one could do to claw their way out. As first Max, then Jack, flopped out into the cockpit, plumes of heavy black smoke began to billow out of the hatches.
    Jack saw Kurt’s body, crumpled in the cockpit, as it flopped from side to side with the rolls of the boat. “Is he dead?” he shouted at Max.
    She managed to wheeze between coughs, “I don’t know. I hit him pretty hard.”
    Jack looked at her in amazement. “No time to worry about him. We have to get off the boat!” By now Jack was also coughing. Max followed as he tried to reach the side of the boat.
    Irrepressible kept throwing them back and forth, but finally they managed to climb out of the cockpit and jump into the water. The shock of the freezing ocean sucked their breaths away, and for a moment they simply held onto each other as the reality of what had just happened began to sink in.
    “The dingy,” said Max between shivering teeth and coughs.
    The dinghy was floating peacefully behind the burning, sinking boat. Together they began stroking toward it and its promise of survival.
    * * *
    As the Sea Witch passed through the breakwaters, Tom could see Irrepressible about a mile away. As they rushed toward the boat, smoke began to appear, and in what seemed like an instant it became heavy and black. They were closing fast when the radio came to life. It was the marine patrol, and they too had seen the smoke.
    * * *
    By the time they reached the dinghy, Irrepressible had begun to settle rapidly. Holding onto the dinghy’s sides, they watched as she slipped below the water. Almost immediately the dinghy was ripped from their grasp. It was still tied to Irrepressible , and now it followed her to the bottom.
    * * *
    “Son of a bitch!” cried Tom as he watched Irrepressible slip below the surface. “Anyone see any survivors?”
    Art, who was driving his boat as fast as she would go, remained mute. The deputy who had come along stared at the spot where the boat had gone down and shook his head no.
    Suddenly Art said, “There. I see something.”
    Tom spun and looked at him. “Where?”
    “Over there.” Art pointed just off the starboard bow. He turned the wheel and headed for the spot.
    As Tom looked ahead, he could see arms waving frantically through the waves.
    * * *
    Max and Jack heard the sound at the same time. It was the distinct sound of a powerful diesel engine, and it was getting louder. As they turned, they could see it bearing down on them rapidly. They continued to wave their arms, and then they started to shout. It was obvious that they had been spotted, and for a moment they both felt a little warmer. Jack was facing Max, and he looked deeply in her eyes. “I love you.”
    She looked at him and began sobbing uncontrollably. “Jack …” That was all she could say before the Sea Witch arrived. She was an open stern lobster boat, so they were easily pulled up over the transom. Tom handed them blankets and helped them wrap up. The marine patrol arrived moments later, and it was agreed that while the Sea Witch would return to Rye Harbor, they would remain behind to mark the spot of the sinking and pick up any debris.
    The sun was beginning to hit the horizon as the