"None at all? You're sure?"
"Certain, sir. The talley is three hundred and thirty...."
Nearly a hundred men remained in the corridor. Ashen-faced but calm,
they stared at the rectangular doorway which would have meant a chance
to live.
"In you go, Thayer," said the Captain. "Prepare to release."
Into the tense silence broke the brittle clicking of high heels as Tom
and Dorothy Hall sauntered up, arm in arm, a puzzled frown on their
foreheads.
The Captain moaned. "Another woman! Wait, Thayer. We've one more woman
here. Which one of you men in Boat A will volunteer to give up his place
to young Mrs. Hall?"
An elderly man walked serenely back into the ship, and joined the
others.
Dorothy looked bewildered. "But what's happened? We kept hearing so much
noise we decided to get up. Is something wrong?"
"We're abandoning ship. This gentleman is giving up his place to you.
Get in."