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to land did not bode good news. Luke Hepburn, the pilot, got out from the right hand side, moving slowly. The look on his face told them the story.
    “Allison, I’m sorry. We found your father and one crew member. Their bodies are on board. Do you want to come to Yarmouth with us?”
    Tears flooded her eyes again. All she could do was nod her head, and then she fled back to the house.
    “Where’d you find them?” asked Toby.
    “About twenty miles directly east of here. Looks like they got into the life raft, but it was empty and floating upside down. They were floating nearby. No sign of the third man. Captain Smith and a crewman whose name we don’t know were wearing neither life jackets nor immersion suits. They couldn’t have lasted very long. No sign of the boat, either.”
    “I’ll go up and help Allie pack. Won’t take too long. You guys want coffee or food?”
    “No. We’re fine thanks. Take your time. If we get off by five we’ll be okay.”
    It took about half an hour for Allison to emerge from the house. Toby carried her suitcase and the crewman stowed it on the chopper. Toby kissed her with considerable passion and helped her aboard.
    “She’s not going to sit in the back with the bodies all alone, is she?” He asked Hepburn.
    “No, Ed will put her in the jump seat just behind Terry and me. We’ll bring her back when she’s ready to come. Will you have somebody to meet her in Yarmouth?”
    “I’ll call my Dad. He’ll be there.”
    With that, the pilot got back into the helicopter. Terry Jenkins, the co-pilot, had already started the engine. In two minutes the machine rose into the air and headed south west. Toby stood and watched.
    The helicopter cleared the shoreline and then the engine sputtered and stopped. The pilot clearly intended to turn back but he had no time or height to make it and Toby stood in horror as the craft plunged into the water on its left side, sank, floated to the surface and then began to settle again.

CHAPTER THREE
    After the fact of the crash had sunk into his brain, about thirty seconds following the shock made itself felt, Toby turned and ran full tilt to the shed where the Zodiac sat ready on its dolly, outboard engine installed and ready to run. Panting with exertion, he ran to the shore, pulling the dolly behind him. He waded out into the water until the craft floated. Then he jumped into the Zodiac, pushed the starter and the outboard roared into life. He was thankful that he always kept the motor ready for instant use and even more thankful that he saw a blonde head bobbing in the water, a helmeted figure close to her. The pilot was standing partly inside the open cockpit door, balanced on something, likely the side of his seat, obviously helping the co-pilot to exit the sinking craft. As a passing thought he reckoned that one or more of the big blades must be temporarily holding the chopper from totally immersing itself in the cold ocean water.
    Ed Harrison, the crewman, for that was who was swimming close to Allison, helped Toby get her into the boat. This was no easy task because Allison was not a small woman and was struggling, unaware that someone was trying to help her. She was obviously in shock, panicking and of course, very cold from the icy water. Finally, with Toby pulling and Ed pushing as best he could while swimming in the cold choppy water, they got her on board. Then Toby helped Ed climb over the side. He was wearing an orange immersion suit and was not cold except for his hands and face. Toby gunned the motor for a few seconds and nudged the Zodiac up to the forward part of the helicopter. Ed stood up, working hard to keep his balance, while Toby kept nudging the craft close to the rapidly settling helicopter. Eventually they helped Luke bring Terry out. Terry was obviously hurt, favoring his left arm and shoulder. Once the two pilots were in the boat, Toby headed for shore at top speed. He and Ed dragged the inflatable up on the rocky shore