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Then the guard focused his eyes on the old Thoun The two seconds between puzzlement, and alarm, followed by physical reaction, cost hi up his weapon and whip sideways, Pitt had chopped the butt of the Thoainst his skull under the black ski mask

Pitt caught the guard as he sluh he were dozing Next he ducked under the forward fuselage of the helicopter and approached the two rasped the rungs of its ladder and gave it a great heave, tipping it backwards

The h the air, so startled they didn't shout Their only reaction was to throw up their hands in a futile atte onto the hard wooden plank floor One struck his head and blacked out iht arasp burst from his lips only to be silenced by the sudden iainst his temple

"Nice work," said Findley, dispensing with silence

"Every move a picture," Pitt muttered loftily

"I hope that's the lot"

"Not quite Al has four more behind the 'chopper"

Findley cautiously stepped under the aircraft and was astounded to see Giordino sitting co fiercely at four scowling captives entirely encased up to their chins in sleeping bags

"You always had a fetish for neat packages," said Pitt

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Giordino's eyes never left his prisoners "And you were always too loud What was all the noise?"

"The mechanics took a nasty fall off the maintenance stand"

"How ?"

"Seven, all told"

"Four ht crew"