### 84

Silently you watch as the great tube is gradually lowered, by means of ratchets and gears, until it is pointing directly at the waterline of the Intrepid. It seems a pointless exercise: the ship is sinking so quickly that to fire upon it now would seem to be wasteful. Then suddenly you realize what the enemy captain is planning to do; the thought of it stirs you to anger.

Turn to 113.

Text copyright © 1988 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1988 Brian Williams.