"I had to find a new one." The man shook his head. "It was hell."

Mitchell felt the price climb. The men grouped around the rudder drifted up the ramp and onto to the pier again and Mitchell waited in the cockpit with the sloop in two pieces. Hank returned with a wet suit. Andy was close behind and they shoved the rudder into the water. Hank dove under the boat while Andy waited in the cockpit and when the rudder post protruded suddenly through the shaft he secured it then fastened the tiller.

"You’re back in business," Hank said, climbing out of the water onto the dock. He stripped off his wet-suit and walked to the top of the pier and disappeared.

Andy wandered off again and the air was suddenly charged with tension as Mac walked slowly down to the sloop. "Mind if I come aboard?"

"The moment of truth," Mitchell said.

"It’s here." Mac climbed aboard and sat on deck with his feet down on the bench. He handed Mitchell the bill.

Mitchell read it but he didn’t understand, something was wrong. "This is it?"

Mac looked off at the harbor. "That'll do."

"But this -. It isn’t much."

Mac looked at the bill not at Mitchell. "Hank said he'd forget his dives and the time on the batteries. I let a few things slide where I could. The guy who fixed the rudder has to get paid but I'd say you made out all right."

Mitchell checked the bill again. He looked at Mac. "I wish there was something I could do for you." It even sounded helpless. He stared into his reflection in Mac’s sunglasses.

"Yeah, well, if you're ever back in Newport stop and buy us a beer. I need this dock tomorrow. I'd appreciate it if you'd move your boat."

"I'll square this with you and we'll move it."

"Use the dock today," Mac said and climbed over the lifeline. "Go ashore and see the town. I don't need it until tomorrow." He walked away up the ramp.

Mitchell stared through the companionway into the cabin shadows. "He’s harmless. My God. I’ll be godda-. So he fucked with us. So what?" He looked up at the sky. "I let it get under my skin and stuck it to him like an angry kid. For pride. At my age. At my age." The words were bitter coming out of his throat. "Have I lost that much?"

When Andy climbed aboard for something to eat Mitchell handed him the bill. Andy looked at the bill and then at Mitchell and then at the bill again. "This is half of what he should've charged you. It's less than half."

"Alms for the poor." Mitchell was vacant, watching the harbor for something that wasn’t there. "It is fortunate though. What we learn about ourselves."