Crash! That time the water dove full over the cabin roof, pouring down the walls in solid sheets.
How many like that, Ken wondered, would it take to fill the barge to its gunwales and drag it under? How soon—?
But all thought blanked out of his mind as the barge careened far to one side. Ken fought to retain his place, digging his heels into Cal’s rocklike chest.
Sandy, with nothing to brace himself against, slid helplessly across the floor toward the hotly glowing stove.
“Sandy!” Ken shouted. “Watch out!”
But Sandy couldn’t check his headlong dive. His shoulder struck hot metal.
Even as he hit it he was twisting away, with all the strength of his muscles. But the smell of burned cloth quickly filled the air. And as Sandy managed to lunge himself toward the wall, and safety, Ken could see the charred black burn on the sleeve of his windbreaker.
“Did it go through?” Ken asked. “Are you burned?”
To his amazement Sandy’s answering voice was suddenly strong—almost cheerful.
“I just got warmed up,” he said. He twisted around so that Ken could see his face. “We’ll beat this thing yet, Ken.”