Free 68 Knots by Michael Robert Evans Page A

them. If he let them get away with this kind of foolishness, they would just get worse as time went on.
    What would my father say right now? he thought. He would know just the right words. Something like, “If you pull this kind of stunt again, I’ll resign as captain—and
then
where would you be?”
    No, too risky. They might just let him quit. How about, “I am your captain, and I expect you to follow my instructions. If we can’t all agree to do at least that much, then we’re in for a long and dangerous summer.”
    That might work, but someone might laugh. Like Crystal. She seemed the most likely to tell him to take a hike. Maybe he would say, “What did you think—”
    â€œWell,” Crystal asked, her hands on her hips. “Did you get the things on your list?”
    Arthur scowled. “I didn’t spend any of our money at all!” he said.
    Marietta smiled and reached into a large bag. “A cashmere sweater,” she said. “I just
had
to have something warm to wear. I didn’t think Maine would be this cold in the summer.”
    The crew ate a late lunch on board, sailing slowly back out into Casco Bay. Most of them weren’t very hungry, and Arthur guessed that some of McKinley’s money had been lavished on Freeport’s upscale restaurants and premium ice cream parlors. Joy boiled the pasta, added some tomato paste and a few mushrooms, and sprinkled it with Szechwan pepper. Arthur had to admit it tasted great.
    Two days later, with Logan at the helm, he spotted a large powder-blue sailboat—an expensive luxury yacht—cruisingnearby. A middle-aged captain was at the wheel, and several other wealthy sorts milled about the decks. For some reason, the boat began to move in closer.
    â€œOh, shit,” Logan said, wiping his hair from his eyes. “You don’t think those people, like, knew McKinley or anything, do you? Ka-BOOM! Let’s put a warning shot across their bow.”
    Dawn was standing near the wheel. “Just stay on your course, don’t change anything, and relax,” she said. “These people might just like beautiful old schooners.”
    The blue-hulled boat took a course parallel to Logan’s, matching the
Dreadnought
’s speed. Only a few dozen yards of water separated the two boats, and the other captain waved respectfully to Logan.
    Logan waved back. He tried to talk to Dawn without moving his lips. “What do ya think he wants?”
    Dawn fixed her green eyes directly at the opposing captain. She made no effort to hide her voice. “I don’t know what he wants, but right now he seems to be content just to ride along with us. Let’s enjoy his company. Just two great ships sharing a brief moment in the midst of the tumultuous sea.”
    Logan kept his lips still. “Would you go get Arthur?” he asked.
    Dawn shook her head. “We don’t need him. We’re doing fine,” she said.
    â€œOf course we are,” Logan said. “We’re doing totally fine.”
    A moment later, the other captain waved again. This time, he also pointed ahead, then pointed at Logan, then pointed ahead again.
    â€œOooo-weee, we’re in trouble,” Logan said. “He wants us to go with him somewhere. He wants to talk with us. He’s probably, like, some five-star general in the Coast Guard or something,and he knows what’s going on. We’re in a lot of trouble. Ka-chink! Locked in the brig forever.”
    â€œRelax,” Dawn said. “I don’t think the Coast Guard uses baby-blue sailboats, and I don’t think they dress in designer sportswear.” She stepped to the railing and raised her hands in a shrug. “We don’t understand!” she shouted.
    The captain signaled to a young woman on his ship, and a moment later, she brought him a bullhorn.
    â€œAhoy, tall ship!” he called out. “I was wondering if we could interest