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A search of the hacienda turned up nothing concrete The roo evidence The abandoned plane parked on the airstrip was another ies with childlike faces painted on them

"What do you ents, as an expert in ancient Southwest artifacts

"They look like soious symbols"

"Are they made from cottonwood?"

The agent lifted his sunglasses and examined the idols close up "Yes, I think I can safely say they're carved out of cottonwood"

Starger ran his hand gently over one of the idols "I have a suspicion these are the sacred idols Pitt was looking for"

Rudi Gunn was told while he was lying in a hospital bed A nurse entered his rooents

"Mr Gunn I'ht you'd like to know that Dirk Pitt was picked up alive in the Gulf about half an hour ago"

Gunn closed his eyes and sighed with heavy relief "I knew he'd make it"

"Quite a feat of courage, I hear, swiround river"

"No one else could have done it"

"I hope the good neill inspire you to become more cooperative," said the nurse, who talked sweetly while carrying a long rectal thermometer

"Isn't he a good patient?" asked Di Maggio

"I've tended better"

"I wish to hell you'd give me a pair of pajamas," Gunn said nastily, "instead of this peekaboo, lace-up-the-rear, shorty nightshirt"