Owen McCuen

I checked below, and there wasn't a trace of water.

When I returned, Grace had fainted on a seat, Tim comforting her.

Even Tammy, always solid in storms and boat mishaps, was visibly shaken.

They looked to me for an answer.

Let's get this boat underway and head to the island I was heading for, I said instead.

We're much closer to that than home.

I'll contact the Coast Guard from there and tell them why we left.

I needed to get Grace among other people and at least a sense of safety.

Getting the boat headed into the wind, I could see that to get to the island, at best we'd have a beam reach wind, and decided to also use the motor.

I looked for the starter.

It was then that I noticed none of the instruments on the panel were working.

Not only that, but they seemed more like something only for show.

I turned the wheel.

Nothing happened.

It just spun lazily like it was attached to nothing.

I kept it from showing on my face, but my thoughts weren't racing to a positive conclusion.

A harder look down below was in order.

What I expected turned out to be true.

Nothing worked there either.

And then I noticed for the first time the boat itself was disjointed.