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Oates gave Simmons a dubious stare "You make it sound as if Blackbeard the Pirate was responsible"

"Agents were patrolling the dock and riverbank," Lucas explained

"No way passengers and crew could be subdued and carried off without a sound"

"Maybe they were drugged," suggested Dan Fawcett

"A possibility," admitted Lucas

"Let's look at this head-on," said Oates "Rather than speculate on how the abduction occurred, I think we must concentrate on the reason

and the force responsible before we can plan a response"

"I agree," said Simmons He turned to Metcalf "General, any evidence the Russians are behind this as a time cushion to launch a first strike?"

"If that was the case," answered Metcalf, "their strategic rocket forces would have taken us out an hour ago"

"They still ht"

Metcalf gave a slight negative tilt to his head "Nothing indicates they're in a state of readiness, Our Krens of increased activity in or around the eighty underground command posts in Moscow, and our satellite surveillance shows no troop buildup along the Eastern bloc border

Also, President Antonov is on a state visit to Paris"

"So much for World War Three," said Mercier with a look of relief

"We're not out of shalloater yet," Fawcett said "The officer carrying the codes designating nuclear strike sites is also gone"

"Not to worry on that score," said Metcalf, s for the first time "As soon as Lucas here alerted me to the situation, I ordered the alphabetical code words changed"