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Far above the turbulent waters Augustine Volcano seemed calm and serene in the late afternoon sun It was one of thethe classic contour of Mount Fuji in Japan

The powerful launch surfed for an instant on a white capped swell before diving over the crest Pitt braced his feet, gripped a railing with both hands while his eyes studied the shore

The wreck was heeled over at a twenty-degree angle and her stern section blanketed in brown rust The rudder was canted in the full starboard position and two barnacle-encrusted blades of the propeller protruded from the black sand The letters of her name and borne port were too obscured to read

Pitt, Giordino, Dover, the two EPA scientists and one of the Catawba's junior officers all were garbed in white encapsulating suits to protect them from the plumes of deadly spray They coear

Attached to their waist belts were intricate filter systened to refine clean, breathable air

The sea around them was carpeted with dead fish of every species

A pair of whales rolled lifelessly back and forth with the tine, united in rotting decay with porpoises, sea lions and spotted seals

Birds by the thousands floated a that had lived in the area had escaped

Dover expertly threaded the launch between the threatening offshore barrier of projecting rock, the re for ahis ti the depth Then as a wave slaainst the next one co in, he aimed the bow at the small spit of sand formed around the base of the wreck and pushed the throttle forward Like a horse bracing for the next hurdle at the Grand National, the launch rose up on the wave crest and rode it through the swirling foam until the keel dropped and scraped onto the spit

"A neat bit of handiwork," Pitt complimented him

"All in the tirin visible behind his helmet's facemask "Of course, it helps if you land at low tine"

They tilted back their heads and stared up at the wreck towering above them The faded name on the stern could be deciphered now It read Pilottown

"Almost a pity," Dover said reverently, "to write finish to an enigma"

"The sooner the better," Pitt said, his tone grim as he considered the mass death inside

Within five minutes the equipment was unloaded, the launch securely moored to the Pilottown's rudder, and thethe steep slope on the port side of the stern Pitt took the lead, followed by Giordino and the rest as Dover brought up the rear