“Where did they hit?” he asked, craning his neck around to see.
“Somewhere up above,” she said.
He looked up. “That would mean the pilot house. It makes sense.”
The girl nodded, a light of interest in her eyes. “Yes, that means the ship would have no pilot now! Means we’re helpless! You should go there!”
“Kara, I’ve read a book, but I’ve never even been inside the pilot’s circle!”
“But what if you’re the only one?”
She darted out into the confusion, and he called for her to come back. Then he ran after her.
They could almost count the hairs on the pirates’ heads. A pile of deck chairs had broken loose, and they climbed over it. The crew was busy taking up shooting positions along the rail, not noticing the two children running toward the rear of the gondola.
“Kara, we need to get b
