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Nixon slid the blade into the tiny gap

“Slide in another,” Cabrillo said, “and begin to wedge off the belly plate”

Minutes passed as the gap widened As it did, Cabrillo diverted the heat under the plate, which heated the glue applied centuries before At last the crack was large enough that a hand could fit inside Cabrillo handed Nixon the heat gun, slid his fingers inside the crack, then gently pried back the plate while Nixon continued heating the yak’s-hoof glue

Slowly the plate peeled back Then, all at once, it came off in Cabrillo’s hand

He stared through the opening into an inner compartment Inside lay ancient parch strip of rawhide Cabrillo reached in and carefully removed the bundle

Nixon looked at Cabrillo and smiled “What now, boss?”

“We copy them,” Cabrillo said quietly, “and put them back”

SUNG Rhee was in the center of a ry people The ad to report the dae to his ships, the two billion aires had both returned with teams of attorneys, and his assistant had just called to report that the mayor of Macau was downstairs and on his way up

And then his telephone rang

“I told you,” he told his receptionist, “no interruptions”

“President Hu Jintao’s office is calling”

“Put hi with his hand to clear his office “Put hih”

A few seconds later, a voice said, “President Jintao is on the line”

“Good , Mr President,” Rhee said

“Good , Mr Rhee,” Jintao said quietly “I understand you had a bit of trouble last night”