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"Are fakes as good?" asked the British publisher

"Che cultured emeralds, rubies and sapphires with the same physical, cheround They are so perfect that trained ge any distinction The same is true with laboratory-created diamonds"

"Can they be sold without disclosure?" asked the chairman

"No need to deceive Just as we educated the public into believing diamonds were the only stone to own, so can cultured stones be advertised and promoted as the most practical to buy The only basic difference is that one took millions of years for nature to create, the other fifty hours in a laboratory The neave of the future, if you will"

The room went silent for a moment as each man considered the potential profits Then the chairentles, our future earnings are secure"

March 20, 2000

Washington, DC

Pitt had been lucky, as every nurse on the floor of the hospital in Hobart, Tas him After a bout of peritonitis from the perforated colon, and the reirdle, where if had an to feel as if he had rejoined the living

When his lung reinflated and he could breathe freely, he ate like a starving lu around until they were assured by the medical staff that Pitt was on the road to recovery, a fact attested to by his requests, or rather de to drink that wasn't fruit juice or nored

The admiral and Giordino then escorted Maeve's boys to Melbourne, to their father, who had flown in from his fa ree in animal husbandry, he proood surroundings Though he trusted Strouser & Sons' business judg, he wisely retained attorneys to watch over the twins' best interests Satisfied the boys were in good hands and that Pitt would soon be ready to return hoton, where Sandecker received a tumultuous welcoht a one-sided battle to save Honolulu froic disaster

Any thoughts the President or Wilber Huttonhim at NUMA quickly died

Word around the capital city was that the admiral would be at the hel after the current administration left the White House

The doctor walked into the rooly down at the Derwent River flowing through the heart of Hobart "You're supposed to be in bed," said the doctor in his Australian twang, pronouncing bed like byd

Pitt gave him a hard look "I've laid on a mattress a three-toed sloth wouldn't sleep on for five days

I've served my time Now I'm out of here"