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Five long minutes later it was all over The resonance had faded away, leaving an almost supernatural silence behind it

Gunn was the first to react He tore off his sound deadeners, waved his arms and shouted at Captain Quick, "The door Open the door and let some air in here"

Quick got the ed and thrown open The air that filtered into the rooine room but elcomed by all as they slowly removed the sound deadeners from their heads Vastly relieved the threat was over, they shouted and laughed like fans celebrating a win of their favorite football team Then slowly, in an orderly e room, up the companionways and into the fresh air

Sandecker's reaction time was almost inhuman He ran up the companionways to the wheelhouse in a ti record, if there had been one He snatched up a pair of binoculars and rushed out onto the bridge wing Anxiously, he focused the lenses on the island, only fifteen kilometers distant

Cars were traveling routinely on the streets, and busy crowds of sunseekerssigh and sag in relief over the railing, totally drained of emotion

"An utter triu Sandecker's hand "You proved the best scientific "

"I was blessed with your expertise and support, Doc," Sandecker said as if a great weight had been lifted fro but for you and your staff of bright young scientists"

Overcoed Sandecker, an act considered unthinkable on any other occasion "You did it!" said Gunn "Nearly two million lives saved, thanks to your stubbornness"

" We did it," Sandecker corrected hi to end it was a team effort"

Gunn's expression suddenly turned sober "A great pity Dirk wasn't here to see it"

Sandecker nodded solenited the project"

A the voyage from Molokai

"The reflector positioning was perfect," he said happily "The acoustic energy was reversed exactly as intended"

"Where is it now?" asked Molly

"Co operations, the sound waves are traveling back to Gladiator Island faster than any jet plane Their cohly ninety-seven minutes"