Jack Beale 00 - Dangerous Shoals

their wake that Irrepressible was still tracking true. He only saw the empty ocean, but he still had a feeling that they were not alone anymore.
    “I’m going to get the binoculars,” he said and went back toward the cockpit. Max followed.
    His first sweep of the ocean revealed nothing. Then as he began a second sweep, he suddenly stopped.
    “What is it?” asked Max. She maneuvered herself to be closer to him, pressing up against him, one arm around his waist and the other held up to shield her eyes as she looked in the same direction.
    “I’m not sure. It looks like one of those cigarette-type boats. I guess we’re not alone anymore. Nothing to worry about.” Jack lowered the glasses and looked down at Max.
    “Let me see.” She reached for the glasses.
    “Here.”
    She unwrapped her arm and took the binoculars. She placed the strap around her neck and scanned the horizon in the direction he had been looking. Jack returned to the wheel, unlocked it, and resumed steering.
    The engine droned on and neither said anything. He steered and she watched. The day was getting hotter and Jack was thirsty. “Max, can you take the wheel for a minute while I go below and get a cold drink? You want one?”
    “Sure.” She lowered the glasses, letting them hang from the strap that was around her neck. She slid in front of Jack and took the wheel while he moved back out of the way. Before he moved forward, Jack stood on the helmsman’s seat and, holding onto the backstay to steady himself, looked back. The thrum of a powerful engine could now be heard more clearly, and if he squinted he could just make out the speck in the distance that was the source. Satisfied that there was no immediate danger, he disappeared below. From the shadows two iced coffees were placed into the cockpit, followed by a plate with two chocolate croissants and a couple of napkins. Finally, he emerged and took a quick look around. Now he could clearly see the cigarette boat that only a few minutes before had been but a speck on the horizon. It was dead astern and coming toward them at full speed.
    “Here,” he said as he handed her a drink. Then, “Trade you.” He nodded at the binoculars that still hung around her neck. They traded places as well. Re-locking the wheel he faced astern and raised the binoculars to look back at the rapidly approaching boat while Max bit into a croissant. It was directly astern and appeared to be on the exact same course. “That’s strange.”
    His stomach rumbled, reminding him that there was a chocolate croissant with his name on it waiting to be eaten. He put the glasses down and turned back to steering Irrepressible . As soon as he did, Max reached out and handed him his croissant. He took a bite and glanced back as he chewed.
    The throatier roar of the other boat’s powerful engine could now be heard clearly above Irrepressible ’s. Max finished first and reached for the binoculars and began to study the other boat intently. Jack kept glancing back. It seemed to still be holding the same course. The distance between them was closing fast, which increased concern. “They have to know that we’re in front of them,” he thought.
    “Jack,” said Max, still staring at the overtaking boat. “He’s coming straight at us. Shouldn’t one of us be turning or something?”
    Another glance back at the oncoming boat confirmed that its course had not changed, and a new layer of sound could now be heard. It was the sharp staccato sound of the water slapping against the hull of the onrushing boat. He didn’t recognize the boat nor could he see the driver. Its course remained constant with Irrepressible squarely in its path.
    “Shit,” Jack swore under his breath as he put the wheel hard over to starboard. Irrepressible heeled sharply as she pivoted to the right. His reaction was instinctive and without warning. Max, unprepared for the sharp turn, lost her balance and fell, landing on the seat while dropping the binoculars.
    The roar of the other boat’s engine drowned out Max’s cry as it flew by. Because of Jack’s sharp turn, neither one of them had noticed that the onrushing boat had swerved left and wouldn’t have hit them, although it would have been close. The wake hit like a small tsunami. Halyards rattled, pots and pans clanked in lockers below, and their iced coffees spilled as the cups tipped and fell onto the cockpit sole. Max nearly fell off the cockpit seat, and Jack was knocked off balance