i know this woman , she whispered with a frown . `` also , i have a question for you , '' he said , turning towards her . i did n't see lights from nearby boats , either , not that i could steer toward them . no one else seemed to notice , and i did n't press him . jake tried to pull the crystal off the battery to silence the phone , but it was stuck as tight as a barnacle to a rusty ship . time seemed to slow down as it did . 