"A true account of the attack and sinking of the passenger ship SS City of Benares, which was evacuating children from England during WWII."--Provided by publisher.

The noise of war -- Sailing to safety -- A floating palace -- Desserts and drills -- Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye -- Secrets at sea -- U-boat 48 -- September 17, 1940, the North Atlantic Ocean -- It's only a torpedo -- Fate's hand -- The middle of the Atlantic -- The lounge -- A long green tunnel -- Ships cry -- The longest night -- Break of day -- Utmost dispatch -- The hurricane -- Phoenixes -- "In spite of all the precautions" -- Lifeboat 12 -- I spy nothing -- Perils at sea -- British heroes don't snivel -- Hope is a fine feather of smoke -- Darkest hours -- Illusions, delusions, more nightmares -- And on the eighth day -- A watery grave -- Epilogue.