Now they were so close, everyone had come alive. They had forgotten their despair during the storm.He heard a voice bark out a command in German. He winced. Would these nightmares never leave him?Then he heard it again.It wasn’t his imagination . . . everyone else was listening too.Now he could make out the words: “This is Captain Sunderland of Her Majesty’s Navy. You have illegally entered the waters of the Palestine Mandate. We are coming aboard. If you do not stop your engines immediately, we will be compelled to fire on you.”He felt the engine’s vibrations increase. They were putting on speed!Netanel leaped from his bunk and ran up the companion-way.The deck was washed in the phosphorus glare of a searchlight. He held up his hand to shield his eyes. He could make out the silhouette of a navy patrol boat less than a quarter of a mile away on the port side, heading across their bows.“Eretz Israel, this is your last warning. If you do not heave to, I shall have to fire on you.”The ship continued to pick up speed.
