| Their cabin cruiser had quickly sunk after hitting a | | | | him about his family and his concern for them if |
| submerged object. There was little time to do | | | | he died. They told him that they could wire their |
| any thing except send out a distress signal stating | | | | brokerage account in Los Angeles and with a |
| their location. Now the three of them were | | | | secret password could send a check of one million |
| bouncing around in a rubber raft in the Pacific | | | | dollars to each one of his family in exchange for |
| Ocean two thousand miles from the nearest land. | | | | Pedro�s life. All Pedro had to do after the |
| They were lucky to have taken the five gallon | | | | wire was dispatched was to put on the life jacket |
| can of water and small ship to shore transmitter | | | | and quietly float away. With little chance of living |
| with them; it might be enough for them to | | | | and out of concern for his family Pedro soon |
| survive. Pedro spoke little English but he was an | | | | agreed. After the wire was sent from the ship to |
| expert crewman that could take an engine apart | | | | shore transmitter Pedro slowly started to put on |
| blindfolded and then assemble it. He grew up in | | | | the lifejacket and that was when he pulled out |
| Acapulco and worked around boats since he was | | | | the small revolver he had taken with him. He fired |
| a child. His first job was washing down the boats | | | | two bullets. The dead couple was then thrown |
| that came in after a day of sports fishing. At | | | | into the sea and Pedro was now alone. A ship |
| seventeen he was the respected captain of one | | | | was still not in sight even though Pedro kept |
| of the most modern sports fishing boats in | | | | transmitting distress signals. He then received a |
| Acapulco. It was then that he fell in love with | | | | message that there had been a mistake in |
| Maria. They were married and after seven years | | | | calculating his location and a trawler was now on |
| had five children. Even if their apartment was | | | | the way, but it could not possibly arrive before |
| small they were comfortable and happy. He now | | | | three days. That message was a death sentence |
| was no longer was with his family but on a rubber | | | | because there was barely enough water left to |
| raft in the middle of the Pacific with the married | | | | last another day. A hot sun and no water can |
| couple that had promised him a small fortune if he | | | | drive a person insane. Delusions and hallucinations |
| would accompany them on a year long voyage. It | | | | accompany a man dying of thirst. Pedro took out |
| now looked like death would be his fortune and his | | | | the gun and put it in his dry mouth and blew the |
| wife and children would be homeless. | | | | top of his head off. All was now quiet on the |
| After a day at sea the married couple was | | | | beautiful Pacific and thirst was gone. |
| getting panicky, they thought that they would not | | | | The mailman came early that day and lunch was |
| be rescued before their water supply ran out and | | | | not yet served. Maria was watching her children |
| that they would die of thirst. If only they had | | | | playing with the soccer ball, but her mind was on |
| listened to their travel agent and took a cruise | | | | Pedro. She missed him and was patiently waiting |
| across the pacific on the Queen, this would not | | | | for his return. He would not be back for another |
| have happened. They were a wealthy couple | | | | three months. She opened up the important |
| from Hollywood Hills; they had every thing that | | | | looking brown envelope and looked at six checks |
| money can buy, and now their lives were going to | | | | each was for a million dollars. Her and her |
| end. They looked at Pedro with contempt as he | | | | children�s name appeared on the checks. |
| took a swig of their precious water supply. The | | | | She thought it was a holy miracle, and ran down |
| water that was going into his mouth could be | | | | to the church to speak to the Father. Together |
| what they needed to save their lives. His life to | | | | they thanked the Lord and went to the Central |
| them was not as precious as the water he was | | | | Bank in Acapulco where she deposited the checks. |
| devouring, and they wished that they had left him | | | | After leaving her new address with the church |
| on the sinking boat. It infuriated them that he | | | | for Pedro when he returned, she and the children |
| shared the life raft. They had to get rid of him, | | | | were on their way to the best hotel in Mexico |
| but Pedro was a strong man and they would | | | | City. Pedro did not return but the family went on |
| never be able to push him overboard. The couple | | | | to build good lives for themselves. They hoped |
| whispered for hours and they came up with an | | | | one day after his life at sea Pedro would join |
| offer that Pedro would not refuse. They spoke to | | | | them. |