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Having no love for his former female captors, Claus relished the opportunity

"Our agents will be waiting for you e land in Managua," Flidais said scornfully

"That's co to know"

Giordino turned quickly, entered the cockpit and dropped into the copilot's seat Pitt glanced at the elevator doors and saw theuards aiting for it to descend before they could swarm up to the roof He reached down and pulled up on the collective, lifting the helicopter into the air Then he pushed the cyclic forward, the nose dipped and the MD Explorer leaped froht the aircraft up to its top speed of one hundred and eighty-fourover the Odyssey facility toward the airstrip stretching between the volcanic mountains As soon as he reached the slopes of the Madera volcano, he banked the Explorer around the peak and brought it down less than thirty feet above the trees before crossing over the shore above the waters of the lake

"Not heading for Managua, I hope," said Giordino, putting on his earphones "Her Royal Highness said her flunkies will be waiting for us"

"I wouldn't be surprised," Pitt said with a wide grin "That's e're heading west out over the Pacific before cutting south to San Jose, Costa Rica"

"Do we have enough fuel?"

"Once we take her to cruising speed, we should allons to spare"

Pitt ski out of contact with Odyssey's radar syste over the spit of land on the west side of the lake Ten miles out to sea, he turned south and slowly increased altitude as Giordino locked in a course for San Jose For the rest of the flight, Giordino kept a wary eye on the fuel gauges

There was a light overcast, not thick enough for rain but just enough to blot out the stars Pitt was tired, more worn-out than he could ever remember He turned over the controls to Giordino and slouched in his seat, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath There was still one more job to do before he could allow himself the luxury of sleep He pulled the satellite phone fro and dialed Sandecker's private line

The adh the earpiece almost immediately "Yes!"

"We're out," Pitt said wearily

"About time"

"There was little need for an extended tour"

"Where are you now?"