Rain was buffeting them; hands held them once more, pulling them into the warm sea, the darkness, and then nothing....
Snake was thinking again, and this time through the captain's eyes.
The cabin door burst open in the rain. Wind whipped her wet veils about her in the door as lightning made them transparent, blackening her body's outline. Jordde rose from his seat. She closed the door on thunder.
"I have received the signal from the sea," she said. "Tomorrow you pilot the ship into the estuary."
The captain's voice: "But Priestess Argo, I cannot take the ship into Aptor. We already have lost ten men; I cannot sacrifice ..."
"And the storm," smiled Jordde. "If it is like this tomorrow, how can I take her through the rocks?"
Her nostrils flared as her lips compressed to a chalky line. She was regarding Jordde.
The captain's thoughts: What is between them, this confused tension. It upsets me deeply, and I am tired.
"You will pilot the boat to shore tomorrow," Argo nearly hissed. "They have returned, with the jewels!"
The captain's thoughts: They speak to each other in a code I don't understand. I am so tired, now. I have to protect my ship, my men, that is my job, my responsibility.