Chapter 70

Julie wasn’t the only one the sea gave back that day. The other was Rolly Archer. Over two hundred miles south of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, fate intervened on his behalf.

The ultra-deep drilling rig had automatic “thruster” engines on the four corners of its floating platform. The thrusters kept the drill on station, in spite of the ocean currents. They were constantly in play, reacting to the GPS system that controlled them, moving the giant rig as necessary.

As the Miranda approached, propelled by the surface swells, the huge platform had responded to an ordinary GPS adjustment. The giant rig shifted just enough for the Miranda to scrape past.

Rolly was identified and taken to a Louisiana hospital. The Louisiana State Police announced that he would be returned to Key West in a day or two. As for Miranda, she was shipshape, requiring nothing but paint.

It seemed that Rolly knew seaworthy when he saw it.

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