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"And are you also aware, sir, that officials at the Ecuadorian embassy have filed a protest?"

"As a ated the protest"

Gaskill sighed and visibly relaxed "I had a feeling in "

"I think Mr Gaskill and I would both appreciate an explanation," said Ragsdale

Sandecker paused as his private secretary, Julie Wolff, entered with a tray of coffee cups and set thee of his desk "Excuse me, Admiral, but Rudi Gunn called from San Felipe to report that he and Al Giordino have landed and arefinal preparations for the project"

"What is Dirk's status?"

"He's driving and should be somewhere in Texas about now"

Sandecker turned back to the governents after Julie had closed the door "Sorry for the interruption Where e?"

"You were going to tell us why you ssdale, his face serious

The adars and offered theents shook their heads He leaned back in his desk chair, lit a cigar, and graciously blew a cloud of blue smoke over his shoulder toward an openThen he told the with the war between the Inca princes and ending with Hiraer's translation of the coiled strands and their knots

"But surely, Adet into the tr

easure hunting business?"

"We most certainly do" Sandecker smiled

"I wish you'd explain the Ecuadorian protest," said Gaskill

"As insurance Ecuador is in bitter conflict with an arovernment officials were not about to allow us to search for the quipu and then take it to the United States for decoding and preservation for fear their people would think they had sold a priceless national treasure to foreigners By claireed to loan the guipu to NUMA for a year And e return it with the proper ceremony, they'll be applauded as national heroes"