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Three men left the aircraft Two of thehly The ship's officer placed the flashlight under his arm so he could have both hands free to brusquely shove one of the men into an open hatchway For a brief instant the unai in fear

Loren saw the facial details clearly Her hands gripped the deck rail and her heart felt locked in ice

Then the copter rose into the night and turned sharply back toward shore The cover over the pool was quickly removed and the crew hts came back on

Everything happened so fast, Loren wondered for aand takeoff

But there was no htened creature she saw on the pool deck below She was positive it was the Speaker of the House, Congressman Alan Moran

On the bridge Captain Pokofsky peered at the radarscope He was of led frohtened and smoothed the jacket of his white dress uniform

"At least they waited until ere beyond the twelve-uttural voice

"Any sign they were followed?" asked the officer of the watch

"No aerial contacts and no craft approaching by sea," answered Pokofsky "A smooth operation"

"Like the others," the watch officer said with a cocky smile

Pokofsky did not return the s deliveries on short notice under moonlit skies"

"This one h priority"

"Aren't they all?" Pokofsky said caustically

The watch officer decided to renize when the captain was in one of his moods

Pokofsky checked the radar again and swept his eyes across the black sea ahead "See that our guests are escorted to e