Olsen said, in a detached voice: ‘They’re not getting away fast enough.’

The boat lay at the foot of the long, sloping cliff that was the side of the Kreya, becalmed for all their struggle with the oars. Mouritzen felt a chill of panic as the perspective began to change and the cliff rose up from the boiling sea. He saw some of the men look up, and thought he could read something of the terror in their faces. An eddy spun the boat round until her bows were pointing back towards the Kreya; then she was tossed against the downward leaning cliff. The men’s cries came up as they were spilled into the cold cauldron that surrounded them. Mouritzen stared down in horror.

He heard Olsen shout something, and when he turned saw that Olsen had hold of a rope and was throwing a line down. Out of the black foam, Mouritzen thought he saw a hand reach up, and fall back defeated. Then the Kreya rolled back, and there was nothing to be seen but the swell of the waves.

They turned away together. Mouritzen said:

‘After the third sign, death by drowning. Maybe they were spirits that spoke to Carling. But what kind of spirits, do you think?’