Chapters 18-19 Summary

In chapter eighteen, it is August 1942, and Pickering is aboard the USS Gregory in the Coral Sea. The captain of the ship shows Pickering his orders, to transport Pickering to another island immediately, where he will then be transported to safety. Pickering and the captain are talking on the bridge when a Japanese fighter airplane attacks the ship. Within minutes, the captain and most of the officers are killed and his own arm is wounded. The ship is able to shoot the airplane down, and Pickering finds he is now in charge of the USS Gregory.

Back in Brisbane, at Water Lily Cottage, Ellen and Banning are awaiting the arrival of Pluto Hon. They decide that there is nothing they can do about More's departure, and their attention has been diverted to the radio message from the USS Gregory announcing Pickering...