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After a wait of eight minutes, the President appeared The audience applause at the end of the act was heard in the brief interval between the opening and closing of the door He was dressed in black evening ith a blue handkerchief nattily tucked in the breast pocket of his jacket

"I wish I could say it was good seeing you again, Admiral, but every time we meet we're up to our butts in a crisis"

"Seems that way," Sandecker answered

The President turned to Fawcett "What's the bad news, Dan?"

"The captain of an auto fer

ry disregarded Coast Guard orders and took his ship on its normal run from Seward on the mainland to Kodiak

The ferry was found a few hours ago grounded on Marers and creere dead"

"Christ!" the President blurted "What was the body count?"

"Three hundred and twelve"

"That tears it," said Sandecker "All hell will break loose when the news et the scent"

"Nothing we can do," Fawcett said helplessly "Word is already co over the wire services"

The President sank into a chair He seemed a tall man on the TV screens He carried himself like a tall man but he was only two inches over Sandecker His hairline was recessed and graying, and his narrow face wore a set and solemn expression, a look rarely revealed to the public He enjoyed tremendous popularity, helped immensely by a warm personality and an infectious smile that could otiations to e Canada and the United States into one nation, had served to establish an ie that was immune to partisan criticism

"We can't delay another ot to be quarantined and everyone within twenty miles of the coast evacuated"

"I ree," Sandecker said quietly

"I'd like to hear why-"