[Boat — Approaching San Corvo — Day 42 — 7:30 AM]
The island appeared at dawn.
"Land," said Kira from the crow's nest.
No one celebrated.
Everyone had known it for six hours.
But Max exhaled from the helm with the sound of someone who had spent forty‑eight hours calculating how much water could enter through two ten‑centimeter cracks before the boat stopped being a boat and started being a navigation hazard.
"Good," said Max. "Good, good, good."
Viktor from the railing, looking at the island:
"Do you know the shipyard?"
"I know the shipyard master." Max orienting the helm. "Or I knew him eight years ago. I hope he's still alive."
"Why wouldn't he be alive?"
"Because the last time I saw him, he was in the middle of an argument with three Sea Fangs captains about the price of a keel." A pause. "It didn't end well for the captains, but it wasn't his best night either."
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