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"Replacements," Masters explained "Ten of the crew jumped ship after we docked in San Francisco Fortunately, Lee and nine of his fellow Koreans arrived fro time"

"All darunted

Masters shrugged "Crew nonqueer about it"

The second officer shook his head doubtfully "One or two ht ship, and the captain here is a fair skipper There was no reason for a mass exodus"

"The way of the sea" Masters sighed "The Koreans are clean, hardworking seao in our holds"

"That's a pretty stiff price,"officer

"Is it i?"

"Not at all," the very young fourth officer offered eagerly "In San Francisco our holds were loaded with-"

"Titaniuots," Captain Masters cut in

"Eightthe fourth sternly

"Once again, please," Estelle said, handing her elass to the mess boy She turned back to Masters "I've heard of titanium, but I have no idea what it's used for"

"When properly processed in pure forhter than steel, an asset that puts it in great deines It's also widely used in the manufacture of paints, rayon and plastics I suspect you even have traces of it in your cosmetics"

The cook, an ane white apron leaned through a side door and nodded at Lee, who in turn tapped a glass with aspoon

"Dinner ready to be served," he said in his heavily accented English, while flashing his gap-toothed smile

it was a fabulous et To be surrounded by six handsomely uniformed-ned and attentive