Page 46 of Honor Code

She knew he was right. With a concussion, he wouldn’t be much use. She couldn’t freak out now.

I need you.

“I’ll try.”

Concentrate on what he’d said. Find the hole.

She scrambled around the rigid bottom of the boat on her hands and knees, looking for the leak. She felt an area where the water was colder than anywhere else. There was also a gentle pressure against her fingertips under one of the two lightweight aluminum seats that spanned the width of the boat. "Got it!"

"How big is it?”

She traced the bullet hole with her finger. Water was streaming in. “It’s pretty big. I don’t think we can plug it.”

His expression hardened. “Then we have a problem.”

They were going to die. She knew it.

He squinted into the distance. “How far is that island?”

Holy crap. He wasn’t suggesting?—

“It’s too far to swim,” she said, reading his thoughts.

“Get the life jackets.”

Oh, God.

With shaking hands, she rifled in the compartment then pulled out two orange life vests. He kept the boat aimed at the island. “With a bit of luck, we’ll get there before we take on too much water.”

At that moment, the outboard motor coughed, spluttered, then died.

CHAPTER 22

They were adrift a mile from land. Phoenix checked the fuel tank—it was dry. And there was no reserve canister.

Damnit.

He slammed his hand down on the empty tank in frustration.

"What are we going to do?" Ellie asked, her eyes huge. He could tell she was still on the verge of having another panic attack, but so far, she was managing to keep it at bay.

Time to get specific. He tried to clear the fogginess and think. "How good a swimmer are you?"

"I'm okay," she replied, her eyes on the looming shape of the island. "But I won’t make a mile in open water."

“It’s more like three quarters of a mile now.”

She just stared at him.

"I could swim and pull the boat," he offered.

She shot him an incredulous look. "You're injured. You've got a concussion and a three-inch gash in your arm that needs stitches."

He glanced at the bandage she'd wrapped around his wound. That was the least of his worries. His concern was his still-pounding head, though it didn’t hurt quite as bad as before. The nausea had subsided too. That was a good sign. "It's either that or we both swim for it."

Most people he knew would opt for being pulled. It was a far easier ride, but not Ellie. She stared at him for a long time, then fastened her life jacket. “Let’s swim. You'll never make it by pulling the boat."

He gave a tight nod, touched by her thoughtfulness.

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