Ken was still mulling over the scheme Sandy had outlined. “He’d have to come all the way to the edge of the door—that far into the room—and then stop there a minute.” His voice raised a notch. “And he’d do just that if I were lying right there on the floor in front of him.”
“You?” Sandy’s question reminded Ken of his position on the upper bunk, up under the roof. “How would you get down there without breaking your neck?”
The barge lurched sickeningly. The entire cabin shook as a heavy wave struck the rear bulwark. The coffeepot fell from the stove with a loud clatter and rolled across the floor.
“On the other hand,” Sandy said quietly, when the blow subsided for a moment, “there are worse things than risking your neck.” He paused for a moment. “You hear something?” he asked.
Ken listened. “Yes! An engine! Could it be the engine of—?”
“It’s the pumping engine,” Sandy said grimly. “He’s started it up. We must be shipping water.”
“Oh.” Ken’s momentary hope that it might be the engine of a rescue craft died hard. But he tried to fight off his disappointment. “Good,” he said. “It’ll keep him busy awhile. Give us time to get ready.”
“Maybe,” Sandy said. “Or maybe it means we have less time than we thought. If it’s really as tough out there as it sounds, the tugboat captain may decide to turn back.”
“I see,” Ken said. His throat felt suddenly tight and he swallowed. “And if he decides to turn around, Cal would have to give up the idea of waiting for really deep water. He’d do—what he’s supposed to do to us—right away.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t try your scheme, Sandy,” Ken said after a moment. “It just means we have to speed up the schedule.”
“That’s what it means,” Sandy said. He laughed grimly. “I’ve got no feeling in my legs. My arms are numb to the elbow. I’ve got about as much chance of standing up as I have of—” He broke off, and Ken could hear him edging over on the bunk. “But I might as well try,” he concluded.
Ken moved until he could see over the rim of his own bunk. “Why stand up? All you have to do is turn around on the bunk.”
“I’ve got to get you down,” Sandy muttered. “If you try it by yourself you’ll probably break your neck in the drop.”