142 ALBACORA 



WaWa rose and fell violently as it neared the mouth of 

 the cave from which they had taken the penguins. The 

 swells were mean enough to capsize a boat twice the 

 size of the WaWa. Again Mario and Walt waited, but 

 this time they were pressed to the limit of their skill. 

 A sudden swell of water lifted the WaWa like a cork 

 and slammed it sideways over froth that welled around 

 a hundred hidden rocks. 

 "Oh," I shouted. "Lou!" 



"They're okay," Lou said. "They're okay. I can see 

 them. They're still right side up. They're running full 

 speed the hell out of there." 



Crests and geysers of white water, and a glint the 

 setting sun drew from the white rocks made it hard for 

 me to see the WaWa, "They're coming fast," Lou said. 

 "They're doing okay. They're gonna make it. Genie. 

 They're okay." Then Lou stopped and I stood up, both 

 arms against the sides of my chair. The WaWa was still 

 right side up, but Mario was no longer in it. He was 

 nearby, swimming very hard. Walt leaned over the side 

 and somehow, with his enormous arms, managed to lift 

 Mario into the WaWa in that rough sea without falling 

 from the boat himself. Now Walt, clear out of patience, 

 got the WaWa through the break in the rocks quickly 

 and headed straight for the Explorer. 



"Bent propeller," he shouted. "Not serious." 

 "What about Mario?" I called. "Is he hurt?" 

 "Hell, no," Walt said. "I made him jump overboard 



