s still falling in sheets； and Robby navigated the boat mostly by memory。
The lights along the Naval Academy's Sims Drive were a muted； linear glow through the rain and Robby steered for them； barely missing a large can buoy as he fought the boat through the wind。 In another minute they could see the line of gray YPs Yard Patrol boats still moored to the concrete seawall while their customary slips were being renovated across the river。 Robby stood to see better； and brought the boat in between a pair of the wood…hulled training craft。 He actually wanted to enter the Academy yacht basin； but it was too full at the moment。 Finally he nosed the boat to the seawall； holding her to the concrete with engine power。
〃Y'all stop that！〃 A Marine came into view。 His white cap had a plastic cover over it； and he wore a raincoat。 〃Y'all can't tie up here。〃
〃This is Lieutenant mander Jackson； son；〃 Robby replied。 〃I work here。 Stand by Jack； you get the bowline。〃
Ryan ducked under the windshield and unsnapped the bow cover。 A white nylon line was neatly coiled in the right place； and Ryan stood as Robby used engine power to bring the boat's port side fully against the seawall。 Jack jumped up and tied the line off。 The Prince did the same at the stern。 Robby killed the engine and went up to face the Marine。
〃You recognize me； son？〃
The Marine saluted。 〃Beg pardon。 mander； but 〃 He flashed his light into the boat。 〃Holy Christ！〃
About the only good thing that could be said about the boat was that the rain had washed most of the blood down the self…bailing hole。 The Marine's mouth dropped open as he saw two bodies； three women； one of them apparently shot； and a sleeping child。 Next he saw a machine gun draped around Ryan's neck。 A dull； wet evening of walking guard came to a screeching end。
〃You got a radio； Marine？〃 Robby asked。 He held it up and Jackson snatched it away。 It was a small Motorola CC unit like those used by police。 〃Guardroom； this is mander Jackson。〃
〃mander？ This is Sergeant Major Breckenridge。 I didn't know you had the duty tonight； sir。 What can I do for you？〃
Jackson took a long breath。 〃I'm glad it's you； Gunny。 Listen up： Alert the mand duty officer。 Next； I want some armed Marines on the seawall west of the yacht basin immediately！ We got big trouble here； Gunny； so let's shag it！〃
〃Aye aye； sir！〃 The radio squawked。 Orders had been given。 Questions could wait。
〃What's your name； son？〃 Robby asked the Marine next。
〃Lance Corporal Green； sir！〃
〃Okay； Green； help me get the womenfolk out of the boat。〃 Robby reached out his hand。 〃Let's go； ladies。〃
Green leaped down and helped Sissy out first； then Cathy； then the Princess； who was still holding Sally。 Robby got them all behind the wood hull of one of the YPs。
〃What about them； sir？〃 Green gestured at the bodies。
〃They'll keep。 Get back up here； Corporal！〃
Green gave the bodies a last look。 〃Reckon so；〃 he muttered。 He already had his raincoat open and the flap loose on his holster。
〃What's going on here？〃 a woman's voice asked。 〃Oh； it's you。 mander。〃
〃What are you doing here； Chief？〃 Robby asked her。
〃I have the duty section out keeping an eye on the boats； sir。 The wind could beat 'em to splinters on this seawall if we don't 〃 Chief Bosun's Mate Mary Znamirowski looked at everyone on the dock。 〃Sir； what the hell 。 。 。 〃
〃Chief； I suggest you get your people together and put them under cover。 No time for explanations。〃
A pickup truck came next。 It halted in the parking lot just behind them。 The driver jumped out and sprinted toward them with three others trailing behind。 It was Breckenridge。 The Sergeant Major gave the women a quick look； then turned to Jackson and asked the night's favorite question
〃What the hell is going on； sir？〃
Robby gestured to the boat。 Breckenridge gave it a quick look that lingered into four or five seconds。 〃Christ！〃
〃We were at Jack's place for dinner；〃 Robby explained。 〃And some folks crashed the party。 They were after him 〃 Jackson gestured to the Prince of Wales； who turned and smiled。 Breckenridge's eyes went wide in recognition。 His mouth flapped open for a moment； but he recovered and did what Marines always do when they don't know what else he saluted； just as prescribed in the 'Guide Book'。 Robby went on： 〃They killed a bunch of security troops。 We got lucky。 They planned to escape by boat。 We stole one and came here； but there's another boat out there； full of the bastards。 They might have followed us。〃
〃Armed with what？〃 the Sergeant Major asked。
〃Like this； Gunny。〃 Ryan held up his Uzi。
The Sergeant Major nodded and reached into his coat。 His hand came out with a radio。 〃Guardroom； this is Breckenridge。 We have a Class…One Alert： Wake up all the people。 Call Captain Peters。 I want a squad of riflemen on the seawall in five minutes。 Move out！〃
〃Roger；〃 the radio answered。 〃Class…One Alert。〃
〃Let's get the women the hell outa here；〃 Ryan urged。
〃Not yet； sir；〃 Breckenridge replied。 He looked around； his professional eye making a quick evaluation。 〃I want some more security here first。 Your friends might have landed upriver and be ing overland that's how I'd do it。 In ten minutes I'll have a platoon of riflemen sweepin' the grounds； maybe a full squad here in five。 If my people ain't too drunked out；〃 he concluded quietly； reminding Ryan that it was indeed a Friday night Saturday morning and Annapolis had many bars。 〃Cummings and Foster； look after the ladies。 Mendoza； get on one of these boats and keep a lockout。 Y'all heard the man； so stay awake！〃
Breckenridge walked up and down the seawall for a minute； checking fields of view and fields of fire。 The 。45 Colt automatic looked small in his hands。 They could see in his face that he didn't like the situation； and wouldn't until he had more people here and the civilians tucked safely away。 Next he checked the women out。
〃You ladies all right oh； sorry； Mrs。 Jackson。 We'll get you to the sick bay real quick； ma'am。〃
〃Any way to turn the lights off？〃 Ryan asked。
〃Not that I know of I don't like being under 'em either。 Settle down。 Lieutenant； we got all this open ground behind us； so nobody's going to sneak up this way。 Soon as I get things organized； we'll get the ladies off to the dispensary and put a guard on 'em。 You ain't as safe as I'd like； but we're gettin' there。 How did you get away？〃
〃Like Robby said； we got lucky。 He did two of them with the shotgun。 I got one in the boat。 The other one got popped by his own man。〃 Ryan shivered； this time not from wind or rain。 〃It was kinda hairy there for a while。〃
〃I believe it。 These guys any good？〃
〃The terrorists？ You tell me。 They had surprise going for them before； and that counts for a lot。〃
〃We'll see about that。〃 Breckenridge nodded。
〃There's a boat out there！〃 It was Mendoza； up on one of the YPs。
〃Okay； boys；〃 the Sergeant Major breathed； holding his 。45 up alongside his head。 〃Just wait another couple of minutes； till we get some real weapons here。〃
〃They're ing in slow；〃 the Marine called。
Breckenridge's first look was to make sure the women were safely behind cover。 Then he ordered everyone to spread out and pick an open spot between the moored boats。 〃And for Christ's sake keep your damned heads down！〃
Ryan picked a spot for himself。 The others did the same； at intervals of from ten to over a hundred feet apart。 He felt the reinforced…concrete seawall with his hand。 He was sure it would stop a bullet。 The four sailors from the YP duty section stayed with the women； with a Marine on either side。 Breckenridge was the only one moving； crouching behind the seawall； following the white shape of the moving boat。 He got to Ryan。
〃There； about eighty yards out； going left to right。 They're trying to figure things out； too。 Just give me a couple more minutes； people；〃 he whispered。
〃Yeah。〃 Ryan thumbed off the safety； one eye above the lip of the concrete。 It was just a white outline； but he could hear the muted sputter of the engine。 The boat turned in toward where Robby had tied