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"I do not believe in te the fates"

Prevlov unzipped his sodden jumpsuit and let it fall on the floor "I am afraid you are about to make an exception to that rule, Captain We, you and I, are about to tempt the fates as they have never been tempted before"

57

Pitt could not escape the feeling he was being deserted on a lonely island as he stood on the foredeck of the Titanic and watched the salvage fleet get under way and begintoward the western horizon and safer waters

The Alha a "good luck" with his addis laht be the last visual record of the Titanic Pitt searched for Dana Seagras, but his eyes failed to pick her out He watched the ships until they became small dark specks on a leaden sea Only the missile cruiser Juneau and the Capricorn ree tender would soon depart and follow the others once the tug captains signaled they had the derelict in tow

"Mr Pitt?"

Pitt turned to see a hter and the body of a beer keg

"Chief Bascoht a two- cable"

Pitt smiled a friendly smile "I bet they call you Bad Bascom"

"Only behind my back It's a nao" Bascouess?"

"Co terms behind your back, that is"

"A good man, the commander"

"How long will it take for the hookup?"

"With luck and the loan of your helicopter, about an hour"

"No probles to the Navy anyway" Pitt turned and gazed down at the Wallace as Butera very carefully backed the tug toward the Titanic's old straight up-and-do until he was less than a hundred feet away "I take it the helicopter is to lift the tow cable on board?"