. "Uh, thank you, sir."He looked at her quizzically for a moment, and then nodded. "I don't need to know the details, but you've done a good job what...ver it was you've done. I'm going to give you a harder nut to crack, and it might take a while, but we have until you graduate. I don't think you'll be going on Midshipman Cruise with him, but I'd like you to find a way to turn Midshipman Second Shiplett around."There is no other word for it, a part of her mind observed. Lenore simply gaped at. Sam's mind raced, now concentrating on intercepting Phelps; now consumed with unproductive guilt and regret for the stupid mistakes that had led them into this emergency.Phelps, too, controlling the yacht from the afterdeck, could see that escape by water would be an impossibility. The little boat behind him was closing the distance, and the two men on board were intent on overtaking him. Phelps had his engine wide open and it wasn't enough to shake his pursuer. He reentered the cabin and,. It was a gravel road; I turned, drove a mile or so and pulled over.“Mutt, in back, you come up here, let’s hear what happened.”After dog and girl switched I asked, “Ok, talk to me.”“They shot my daddy now they wanta shoot me.”She stopped, I waited for her to continue, she was mute.I reached over and patted her on the back, “You’re safe now.”“No I’m not, not half.”It poured out, “My daddy cooked meth and sold it to a biker gang, when they came; I was in the bedroom, I couldn’t see but I could. "My protector is working on the new dragon ship," she said. "He is so proud to build such a marvel of the sea."The small cabin was full of items hanging from the walls. A number of small wooden shelves held cooking bowls, dishes, plates, and pewter mugs. The wooden floor had a number of wool rugs, strategically placed to warm the one-room cabin. A small kitchen table was full of vegetables and a loaf of bread. Two beds were against the eastern wall, a bed just big enough for two adults and.