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"Twenty-eight to go"

"Yes," Pitt said, sician about to bedazzle an audience "But froo in style"

Fivewere filled and the hull fully inflated, deployed, and ready to do battle with the river Known as a water rescue response vehicle, the ungainly Hovercraft could ride on a cushion of air effortlessly over boiling rapids, quicksand, thin ice, and polluted quagmires Vehicles in use by police and fire departments around the country had saved countless victi on an endurance trial its builders never conceived

Three th and 15 meters (5 feet) wide, the coine that could propel her over a flat surface at 64 kilometers (40 miles) an hour

"Our engineers did a fine job of ht," said Giordino

"Adopting a horizontal engine and fan was a stroke of genius," Pitt agreed

A how much equipment they crammed inside the canister"

Before they cast off, they stowed and tied down ten reserve air tanks, extra air bottles to reinflate the Hovercraft, a battery of lights including two aircraft landing lights built into waterproof housings, spare batteries, first aid equipulators

Froht container Pitt retrieved his battered, old 45 Colt automatic and two ammo clips He sna sandwiches Adot the details that make for a successful operation Pitt put the thermos and sandwiches back in the container There was no time for a picnic They had to push on if they were to reach the treasure chamber before it was too late to save Loren and Rudi He inserted the gun and extra a Then he unzipped the front of his wet suit and slipped the bag inside next to his stomach

He stared for a moment at the black collapsible Hovercraft "Oh, Circe, ill guide us on this journey," he quoted "To Hades no man ever went in a black ship"

Giordino looked up fro oars to their locks "Where did you hear that?"

"The Odyssey by Homer"

"Verily a the Trojans too there be libly "The Iliad I can quote Homer too"

"You never cease to amaze me"

"It's nothing really"