The second impact came through Drake’s feet.
Below Maren’s damaged deck, a pallet broke free and struck the lower side. Her vessel heeled. The waterline climbed past a strip of bare timber that had been visible a moment earlier.
Maren signaled that the hold could not be reached from inside.
Jessa watched the near shelf.
“One wider phase. Then it closes here.”
She pointed directly through the place where Drake needed the rescue frame.
“Cal. External lash points. Safety line.”
Cal secured himself before going to look. Merrit kept the transfer line clear. On the far deck, people waited at the upper rail instead of attempting a crossing whose last step had begun moving away beneath them.
