DAY 16. AT SEA. THE SAME EVENING.
The captain’s voice came through another microphone, clearer this time.
THIS IS THE BRIDGE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE LOST POWER ACROSS THE SHIP BECAUSE OF A FIRE IN THE ENGINE ROOM. WE’VE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT THERE’S DAMAGE TO THE MAIN GENERATOR. OUR CREW IS WORKING ON RESTORING SOME POWER USING AN AUXILIARY GENERATOR. IN THE MEANTIME I’M AFRAID, THE SHIP WILL REMAIN IN DARKNESS. FOR YOUR SAFETY, PLEASE DO NOT MOVE AROUND. I WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON ALL DEVELOPMENTS. PLEASE OBEY ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS OF OUR EXPERIENCED STAFF.
‘We may be here forever,’ Peter groaned.
‘We’re two days out from Honolulu,’ someone on the next table called. ‘We may have to be towed. I hear that’s happened before.’
‘Or we might sink,’ another voice of
