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"NEBULA," Pitt read aloud "NEBULA AIR"

"Never heard of it," said Giordino, his eyes fixed on the ice

"A plush airline that caters to vips

"What in hell is it doing so far from the beaten track?"

"We'll soon know if anybody's alive to tell us"

Pitt turned to the eightcomfortably in the warm belly of the chopper They were all appropriately clothed in blue Navy Arctic weather gear One was the ship's surgeon, three were e-control experts They chatted back and forth as casually as if they were on a bus trip to Denver Between them, tied down by straps in the center of the floor, boxes of medical supplies, bundles of blankets and a rack of stretchers sat stacked beside asbestos suits and a crate of firefighting equipment

An auxiliary-powered heating unit was secured opposite thecables attached to an overhead winch Next to it stood a compact snowmobile with an enclosed cabin and side tracks

The gray-haired ray rinned "About time for us to earn our pay?" he asked cheerfully

Nothing, it seemed, could dim Dr Jack Gale's merry disposition

"We're setting do," answered Pitt "Nothing stirring around the plane No indication of fire The cockpit is buried and the fuselage looks distorted but intact"

"Nothing ever coed "Still, it beats hell out of treating burn cases"

"That's the full news The tough news is the main cabin is filled with nearly a aloshes"

Gale's face turned serious "God help any injured who didn't stay dry

They wouldn't have lasted eightw

ater"