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Gunderson adjusted the es a few seconds Satisfied all was okay, he spoke again “Tracy, can you pour me a cup of coffee? It’s time to call the mother ship”

Pilston unscrewed the cup off the thermos, put a piece of folded duct tape on the bottom, then poured a cup and handed it to Gunderson He sipped the hot liquid, then set the cup down on a flat surface, where it stuck Then he reached for the radio, adjusted the frequency, and spoke

“Tiny calling the chairman of the board, you out there?”

A few seconds passed before an answer cao ahead”

“The ladies and I,” Tiny said, “will be there in a few minutes to hook you on board”

“We have you on the scope,” Cabrillo said “You should be seeing us shortly”

“What’s the drill?” Gunderson asked

“You’ll have two yanks,” Cabrillo said “The first is the object—remember it’s heavy”

“We have a cargo slide with a belt, but the door to this old bird is on the side,” Gunderson said “My plan was to winch whatever ere taking aboard close, then do soet the load aboard”

Back on the Oregon, Cabrillo shook his head in amazement “Don’t try that on the second load”

“Why’s that, boss?”

“Because the second load is me”

Michaels was staring out theA speck that was the Oregon came into view

“I have a visual,” she said

“We have you in sight,” Gunderson said, “and we’ll take it easy bringing you aboard, Mr Chairman, don’t you worry”