"...and that's what I did," Phillip was saying, sweaty, angry, shirt-tail out, splotched with black oil.  He looked raptly at Mr. Ackerman as the officer slipped his shoes on.  "If I hadn't grabbed the quick-closing handle when I did, we might have lost the load again, or somebody might have gotten hurt this time.  Fortunately, the cable clamp broke loose like I had planned.  Thank God."

       "Chief," the young officer said, putting on his horn-rimmed glasses, "if no one saw Lynch pull the handle, regardless of what you did---"

       Phillip hit the metal bulkhead with his fist.  He cursed.  "It'd let us know who pulled the trip!  I swear I'll---"

       "Chief, Chief," Mr. Ackerman said, his voice breaking, "Calm down now.  Just play...play it cool when he shows up.  Let me talk to him first."

       A knock came from the closed door.

       The ensign beckoned Phillip to move beside his bunk, away from the door.  He took a nervous breath, then opened the door.

       "Good morning, Lynch.  Come in.  I'd like a word with you."

       The tall blonde entered reluctantly.  He held a hand at the corner of his left eye.  He looked skeptically at the officer, his back to Phillip, not seeing the chief.

       The officer left the door open and walked to the wash basin.  He turned and looked at the seaman apprentice.  "Looks like you been up a while."  The MPA mustered a polite smile.

       "Been...ah...been up at...at the paint locker.  Yeah, that's where.  What do you want with me?"

       "Your eye.  Anything wrong with it?  Hurt yourself?"

       "Yes!" Phillip said curtly.  "When he yanked on the topside fuel oil quick-closing handle!"

       Lynch spun around.  He gapped, backing away.  "I did not!  I did not!"

       "Didn't what?" Phillip asked, teeth clamped.  He moved closer.

       "Sir..." Lynch moaned, looking at the officer.

       "Easy, Chief," Mr. Ackerman said.  To the slouchy-dressed deckhand, he said, "The Chief tells me that someone tried to pull the fuel oil quick-closing valve topside."

       "I didn't do it!  I didn't do it!  How do I know where those things are in the passageway?"

       Phillip and the officer glanced at one another.  Phillip nodded.  He saw Lynch swallow hard.