The cabin-cruiser folded like a cardboard carton beneath the stem of the Saint Albutt’s bows. It sunk almost immediately; but not before there was a searing flash as fuel from the demolished vessel’s tanks ignited. An angry rash of fire spread furiously across the water.
At the fringes of the flames was the sole survivor. Alistair Cameron threshed frantically away from the burning oil.
The Saint Albutt’s captain, startled and confused by the incident, was trying to establish a line of communication with the Puma. Aware that he was not the only witness to the collision; undamaged and able to assist, he was compelled to honour the law of the sea and heave-to.
From the wing of the navigation bridge, the ship’s radio officer made frenzied overtures with an Aldis lamp to the circling helicop
