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“What’s the distance?” Cabrillo asked

“Straight through, it’s about thirty-four hundred miles,” the copilot said “The winds are favorable, so we estiht time”

The Gulfstrea toward the runway

“Easter , seven AM,” Cabrillo said

“That’s the plan, sir,” the copilot said

SOMETIMES it all comes down to a few A few minutes, a few strokes of luck, a few people

At this instant, it o Murphy and Gurt Two men, one helicopter with extra fuel pods and a load of explosives would form the advance team for the liberation of Tibet

They lifted off just after 4 AM under the waning light of a quarter moon

Once Gurt had the Bell 212 at an altitude of one thousand feet above ground level and in a steady forward flight, he spoke into the headset

“Our mission,” he said, “seems fairly impossible”

“Is it the altitude of the pass?” Murphy asked “Or the lack of fuel for the return flight that concerns you the most?”

“Neither,” Gurt said “It’sSunday service and the chicken dinner afterward”

Murphy reached behind his seat and retrieved a sle can and a small blue-covered book “Spam and a Bible,” he said

“Excellent,” Gurt noted “I can proceed, then”

“Will there be anything else?” Murphy asked