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suffering,” Luke added.
    “We can’t let them get away with this,” J.J. said, tight-lipped.
    “What can we do about it?” asked Ian. “They’re in charge, and we’re not. We have to do what they say.”
    “We can fight back,” J.J. insisted.
    Luke glared at him. “I don’t like CNC, but it’s better than jail — and that’s where I go if I don’t complete this trip! Don’t eventhink about messing it up for me.”
    Will struggled into his life jacket and pulled the straps tight around his back. That was the fourth time. Six more to go, Radford’s orders. Yesterday, Will had spent the entire day with the device on backward, and the punishment was to put it on and take it off ten times in a row.
    “Not like that!” From behind, iron hands seized the ties and yanked them to strangulation level. “It’s supposed to be snug!”
    “Hey, that hurts!”
    “Perfect,” Radford confirmed. “If it’s comfortable, it’s on wrong. Ten more times, Archie.”
    Will smoldered as the mate strode away. It was humiliating! Why wouldn’t Radford let him do this in the privacy of the crew cabin? He had to be out here in front of everybody — even
    Lyssa. She wasn’t saying anything, but he could feel her scorn.
    She stood behind the wheel of thePhoenix , piloting the schooner through the waves. Captain Cascadden was at her side, beaming his approval.
    Wouldn’t you know’ it! Out of the six of them, his sister was turning into the star sailing pupil — while he was the sweat-hog in the back row, too stupid to figure out how to put on a life jacket.
    Look at her, chatting with the captain like they’re old friends. A bitter taunt began to form in his mind, something like:Hey, Lyss, make sure you don’t slip in any ofthat barf from yesterday ! But he didn’t dare say it with Cascadden right there.
    Besides, Lyssa wasn’t letting the seasickness bother her at all. Lyssa, who had more reason to hate this trip than anybody, actually seemed to be liking it!
    /should have been an only child .
    The captain resumed his stance at the wheel, while Lyssa began examining various gauges and dials on the control console.
    Yeah,right , thought Will.Like she knows what she’s looking at .
    He watched as his sister’s features contracted into a frown. “Captain, I forget. What does it mean again when the barometer is falling so fast you can see it moving?”
    The captain scanned the glassy sky to the west. The line of black clouds was as solid as a wall stretching clear across the horizon.

CHAPTER NINE
    Saturday, July 15, 1750 hours
    The news from the weather fax was all bad.
    A tropical storm near the equator had suddenly turned their way. It was set to collide with a large mass of cooler air dipping down from the north.
    Will was making deals even before the captain explained their situation.If the storm misses us,I’ll keep my room soclean you could eat offthe floor.’
    “So I’m afraid we’ve got a bit of a rough ride ahead of us tonight,” the captain told them grimly.
    “You mean last timewasn’t a rough ride?” Charla said in dismay.
    “My dear,” the captain replied evenly, “last time was a lap around the duck pond compared with what the next few hours might bring us. But thePhoenix is a fine ship. We’ll make it through if we keep our heads.”
    The first order of business was to take down the sails.
    “I can’t believe they’re making us do this by hand!” complained J.J. as he and Luke hauled on the main halyard. “There’s a storm coming, and we’re doing work when we don’t have to!”
    “Hey!” Luke said sharply. “This is no time to get on the captain’s nerves.”
    “But it’s such asnow job’t” He belted out the last two words so they would reach the mate on the ratlines. Radford glared down at them.
    They heard the engine come to life. ThePhoenix would face this gale under power.
    The weather roared up quickly. At dusk, the rain started pelting down on them. The wind came with