Chapter 6: Szpirglas Summary

Before his shift, Matt heads to the navigation room and sees that they will come closest to the island the next morning. At dinner, he lets Kate know, slipping a note into her napkin. In the crow's nest he is looking up when he sees a shift in the stars. Then another section of the sky is blocked out and he loses his balance when a large pair of wings passes close overhead. Something lands not fifty feet from his post. He examines it a little closer, realizing he is looking at an albatross and tries to scare it off, but it doesn't move. He calls down to the Control Car, explaining the situation to First Officer Rideau, and gets permission to open the hatch and chase it off. It stays, forcing Matt to step out, making himself large to finally...