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"A story far ive you the particulars e meet Where are the three of you now?"

"Wein Arthur Dorsett's study as we speak, borrowing his telephone"

Sandecker went numb with disbelief "You can't be serious"

"The gospel truth We're going to snatch Maeve's twin boys and etaway across the Tasman Sea to Australia" He said it in such a way as to sound like he alking down the street to buy a loaf of bread

Cold fear replaced Sandecker's earlier anxiety, but it was the shocking fear of helplessness The news struck with such unexpectedness, such suddenness, that he was incapable of words for several seconds until Pitt's inquiring voice finally penetrated his shock

"Are you still there, Admiral?"

"Pitt, listen to ently "Your lives are in extreer! Get off the island!' Get off now!"

There was a slight pause "Sorry, sir, I don't read you--"

"I've no time to explain," Sandecker interrupted "All I can tell you is a sound ray of incredible intensity will strike Gladiator Island in less than twenty minutes The impact will set up seismic resonance that is predicted to blow off the volcanoes on opposite ends of the island If the eruption takes place on the western side, there will be no survivors You and the others must escape to sea while you still can Talk no further I a off all communications"

Sandecker switched off his phone, capable of nothing but the realization that he had unknowingly and innocently sealed a death warrant on his best friend

The shocking knowledge struck Pitt like the thrust of a dagger He stared through a large pictureat the helicopter sitting on the yacht oon He estimated the distance at just under a kiloured they would need a good fifteen minutes to reach the dock Without means of transportation, a car or a truck, it would be an extremely close timetable The time for caution had flown as if there had never been such a time Giordino and Maeve should have found her sons by now They had to have found the

He turned his gaze first toward Mount Winkleman, and then swept the saddle of the island, his eyes stopping on Mount Scaggs They looked deceptively peaceful Seeing the lush growth of trees in the ravines scoring the slopes, he found it hard to iiants on the verge of spewing death and disaster in a burst of gaseous steam and molten rock

Briskly, but not in a hurried panic, he rose out of Dorsett's leather executive chair and came around the desk At that instant, he halted abruptly, frozen in

the exact center of the roo open, and Arthur Dorsett walked in

He was carrying a cup of coffee in one hand and a file of papers under an arm He rinkled slacks and what had once been white but was now a yellowed dress shirt with a bow tie Hisanother body in his study, he looked up, more curious than surprised